Our Story
The Welcome was founded in 1995 and over the years has grown into a fully functioning Community Centre offering a wide range of activities, services and support to the people of Longridge and Shaw Heath and surrounding areas. The Welcome is open to all members of the local community including young children, teenagers, busy parents and the elderly.
We offer affordable, good quality, home cooked meals from our cafe and provide a variety of free and great value activities to suit a range of age groups and interests. The Welcome is a perfect example of what has become known as the Big Society, and in 2011 was awarded the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award. The community comes together at The Welcome, there’s a wonderful spirit, with most of the time and effort being put in by committed volunteers. Without their contribution, The Welcome could not function. In 2013, The Welcome received the Queen's Award for Volunteers.
Our funding currently comes from a mixture of supportive individuals, local businesses, charitable trusts and local government programme support. The Welcome is very grateful for the support it receives from the local MP, Ester McVey, and our Patron, George Osborne (formerly the Chancellor of the Exchequer).
The Welcome (Knutsford) is a Company guaranteed by Shares, and is a registered Charity no 1142084. The Welcome is run day to day by our Centre Manager Sarah Riley who has over 14 years experience in helping individuals in communities and being involved in social action. Our café manager Dave Burgess runs our kitchen so that it continues to provide good quality, reasonably priced food and drink to attract everyone in the community. Sarah Pownell is our community support worker and responsible for co-ordinating our volunteers. The work of The Welcome is overseen by a Board of Trustees which consists of Pete Bowler (Secretary), Anila Khalid, John Kinney (Treasurer), Christina Lees-Jones, Rev Sue Swires, Dr Roz Tavernor and Gill Weeks (Chair).
