Churches can be a positive force when it comes to accommodating lonely people. A semi-commercial kitchen can help support community events that bring people together.
Loneliness is a major problem in the UK, with Age UK reporting that more than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 live alone. Churches have long been a place to bring people who suffer from loneliness together. The more community events they can support, the more they can integrate with their community and become a hub for social interaction.
Churches can be a place where people come together – for many, it might be some of the only social contacts they have all week. That’s why it’s important when considering a brand new kitchen to make it somewhere pleasant to be, and where people can engage others – and most importantly, is durable to withstand increased use.
See for example Dursley Tabernacle United Reformed Church, which worked with Steelplan to fit the kitchen with new appliances, sinks and a central island. With a new kitchen or café, tea point or servery, the church is now able to handle a constantly shifting events programme, including Sunday lunches for the community with a capacity for up to 75 people.
Here are just a few examples of events you can hold to help tackle loneliness in your community.
- Community choirs
- Community dinners
- Bake sale
- Book clubs
- Trivia night
- Gardening days
- Arts and crafts festivals
Community events: is your kitchen durable enough?
A kitchen made from wood is not going to be good enough – to meet your requirements for social engagements because it can’t stand the test of time and continue to meet health and safety requirements. But a semi-commercial steel kitchen has it all – the ability to withstand a lot of scrapes and bangs while at the same time being a welcoming environment for volunteers and your congregation.
Looking to host bigger events? Need to rethink your kitchen space, or want to discuss a kitchen design and how appliances could fit in it? Steelplan is happy to help. Get in touch today by calling on 0844 809 9186 or emailing us at [email protected].
