Helping Hands Transforms Community Dining Space Thanks to Generous Wickes Donation
Helping Hands has unveiled a newly transformed community dining space, creating a calmer, more welcoming environment where people can feel safe, supported and at home.
The project has been something the charity has hoped to achieve for some time, with plans not only to refresh the room but also to rethink the identity of its evening Soup Kitchen. Now known as the Community Kitchen, the new name better reflects the wide range of support offered by Helping Hands. While nutritious meals remain at its heart, the service is also a place where people find friendship, encouragement, guidance and a sense of belonging.
Leading the transformation was Helping Hands’ Fundraising Manager, Jacqui, who carefully redesigned the space using trauma-informed principles, selecting calming colours and creating an open, welcoming layout that encourages people to relax and connect.
The community dining space plays a vital role in the charity’s work. While it provides nutritious evening meals, it is also where conversations happen, friendships are formed, and people receive advice, mentoring, counselling and a listening ear. For many, it offers a sense of belonging and community during difficult times.
What began as a simple shopping trip quickly became something much bigger. When Jacqui visited Wickes to buy paint for the project, the team was inspired by Helping Hands’ vision and generously donated all of the paint needed, along with a stunning kitchen corner complete with units, helping to bring the transformation to life.
What makes the transformation even more special is that much of the painting and decorating was carried out by our own staff, volunteers and even a couple of our clients. It truly became a community effort, with everyone taking pride in creating a welcoming space for those who need it most.
The redesigned space now provides a warm, peaceful setting where clients can enjoy a meal with dignity, build relationships and access the support they need in an environment designed with wellbeing at its heart.
Helping Hands extends its heartfelt thanks to Wickes for their incredible generosity and for helping create a space that will make a lasting difference to everyone who walks through its doors.
