‘Come in for a cup of tea and a mince pie’
Slough: Community spaces to open on Christmas Day for those faced with loneliness or isolation
Community-led warm spaces in Slough are set to offer a place for those who would otherwise be faced with loneliness or isolation on Christmas day.
Two spaces open on December 25, at Slough Outreach Community Hub opposite Cippenham Library in Elmshott Lane and New Langley Community Association in Harrow Road, will offer warm teas and mince pies to attendees.
Slough Outreach Community Hub warm space will be open between 2pm and 4pm, and the New Langley Community Association space between 11am and 1pm.
Founder of Slough Outreach, Shin Dhother said: “We’ve had a lot of people reaching out, even some of our volunteers who might be going through a tough time.
“It’s a great initiative, we wanted to be a part of it and now we’ve got a space we can offer.”
Slough Outreach opened a new charity shop in Elmshott Lane, Cippenham three weeks ago and the community hub opposite the library, which opened alongside, is one of the two venues open to the public on Christmas Day.
The charity provides hot meals, warm clothing and access to medical care support for the homeless among other initiatives to help vulnerable people.
“We’re going to have it [the community hub] open on Christmas day for anyone who’s cold, to come in for a cup of tea and a mince pie," Shin said. “Two churches on Elmshott Road have a morning service, but there’s nothing for people in the afternoon and they asked us ‘what would you like to do?’ So there’s been plenty of interest.”
“Anyone can come really, anyone who’s lonely on Christmas - we’ll have Christmas music and we’ll make it lively.”
The warm spaces were arranged in partnership with the borough council and volunteer charities Slough Outreach, New Langley Community Association, Slough Community Voluntary Service and Slough Foodbank.
Shin added: “We’re pretty much community-led and we respond to the needs of the community.
“We’ve had quite a lot of donations of mince pies, food and coffees so we have got everything here but we are happy to be collaborating with Slough Borough Council.
“We’re happy to be collaborating with Slough Borough Council, but we are happy to work with anyone really, it’s an open platform.
For more information on Slough Outreach and to donate to the charity visit: sloughoutreach.org/