People from different faiths got behind a ‘Welcoming Space’ idea in Amersham amid cost of living crisis.

Penny Holmes, 65, from Princes Risborough, is one of four Quaker volunteers working behind the scenes to help anyone in the Amersham area struggling with the rising cost of living.

Now, a couple of months after they first hatched the plan, the Welcoming Space at Amersham Quaker Meeting House at 65 Whielden Street is ready to launch on Sunday January 8.

Penny said: “We’re calling it a Welcoming Space, because we don’t want people to feel that there’s any kind of stigma of not being able to heat their own home. We thought calling it a Welcoming Space would make it a bit broader.”

The move comes after a number of ‘warm spaces’ launched across Buckinghamshire and the country this winter to help families and individuals amid rising energy costs. 

She explained: “We’re just all very aware of the difficulty for people with rising energy costs and rising inflation, so we wanted to do what we can in our area.

“We have been leafleting in areas of social housing and some older people, who may be on their own, thinking these might be the sort of people who might appreciate a warm space and a bit of company and a cup of tea.”

The organisers got “a lot of support” from Amersham and Villages Community Board.

“We’re trying to make it an inter-faith project. As well as Quaker volunteers, we’ve got volunteers from St Mary’s Church, the Anglican Church, and also from the Jewish community, because the Jewish community hire our meeting space for their events, so we have established a good relationship.”

The Rabbi from Amersham and members of the Jewish community will be volunteering, Penny thanked.  

“The meeting house is a very pleasant environment, everybody loves it.”

There will be free hot drinks and biscuits, games, Wi-Fi connection so people can work, or read.

While people are welcome to bring their own phone or laptops, there won’t be any general screens, TVs, or anything that is too loud, Penny said.

“We’ve got games, and toys and craft materials for the children,” she added.

The Welcoming Space will be open every Sunday afternoon from 1pm to 4pm until Sunday March 26.