Norfolk church's Christmas Day community café 

A South Norfolk church held a community café on Christmas Day for people to enjoy a warm welcome space with plenty of company, food, drink and games to play.

Christmas can be a very difficult and potentially lonely time for many and on December 25, Poringland Benefice  held a community café from 2-4pm in Poringland village hall.
 
Rev Rachel Foster said: “On the day we were visited by a number of people who were able to enjoy a warm, welcome space, including one who had been told to leave their home that morning (a domestic situation) and badly needed warmth and basic facilities – we were able to ensure that they did have a place to go at least for that night.
 
“We were very blessed by support from local businesses; Winkworth displayed advertising boards in the month preceding, as did local residents and businesses who opted to have a display board at their homes/premises; eg.law donated food and drink for the café as well as Christmas crackers; the Children’s Society charity shop donated board games and jigsaw puzzles, which proved a huge hit as strangers could gather round an activity and interact; a local childminder donated sweets, biscuits and Christmas serviettes.
 
“We intend building on this initiative for future years," said Rachel.
 
Pictured above is Poringland Village Hall.