Semilong Community Exchange is giving Blue Monday a colourful makeover as we start the second ever Warm Welcome Week

January can be the coldest and loneliest month of the year. It’s the time of year when Warm Welcome Spaces such as our Leicester Street Hub are needed most. Our Warm Welcome Space is a lifeline to people in Semilong who are struggling to keep warm and those feeling lonely or isolated.

In Warm Welcome Week, we’re taking ‘Blue Monday’ back by giving it a colourful makeover. We’re asking everyone to wear warm colours and get creative with pinks, oranges, reds, and purples to chase the blues away and raise awareness of Warm Welcome Spaces.

We don’t want anyone to feel cold or lonely this winter, which is why we are working hard to send a message that Semilong Community Exchange is waiting to welcome you in.

Leicester Street Hub is a warm, welcoming, safe, and free space that is open to everyone. We will be open every Tuesday and Friday 11am-2pm.

Every session we offer a hot meal, advice and support, hot drinks, free Wi-Fi and a warm welcome! Feel free to bring along a craft, some colouring or a book and spend the day with us.

In Warm Welcome Week our space will be hosting partners from across the county including the Library Service, Action for Happiness, The Coop, The Green Doctor, WNC Cost of living and Home Instead.

We will be wearing bright and lively colours and talking about how we can improve our wellbeing and help each other to feel happier.

We want more people to know about community hubs like ours at Semilong Community Exchange. They’re a place you can pop in for a warm welcome, a cuppa, and a proper chat — no judgement, no pressure, just people looking out for each other. It’s a chance to connect, make new friends, and feel part of something local and kind.

The people who come along tell us they leave feeling lighter — sometimes with a full belly, sometimes with a bit of advice or support, but almost always with a smile. If you’ve been feeling isolated, stretched, or you just fancy meeting good humans, we’d genuinely love you to come and get to know us.

Please help us spread the word so anyone who needs a friendly space nearby knows our doors are open.

David Barclay, Warm Welcome Campaign Director, adds:

“We know demand for Warm Welcome Spaces will be high again this winter, not only supporting people struggling to pay the bills but also playing a vital role in connecting communities and giving people a place of belonging. The dark winter days and nights of January can be extremely tough. We don’t want anyone to feel cold or alone this winter.”

“We’re asking everyone to join us in Warm Welcome Week, to raise awareness so more people can find a place of belonging and connection close to home and by encouraging more community spaces to become Warm Welcome Spaces. Everyone can get involved; whether you simply pop on an old orange bobble hat or get creative with craft or cooking, together we will chase away the blues. In Warm Welcome Week, we will create a surge of warmth and positivity in the coldest week of the coldest month.”

You can find Semilong Community Exchange at Leicester Street Community Room, NN1 3RS every Tuesday and Friday, 11am-2pm or email jo@semilong community.com