MARY Wakeham, trustee of the group Heart of the Community has voiced fears that they may be forced to close if more volunteers don't come forward to help them continue their pivotal work for some of Calne's most vulnerable residents.
The community group are a non-profit organisation providing a place where people of different backgrounds and interests can come together for various activities to foster community engagement and development.
The group also provide a cooked hot meal and are a registered 'Warm Space' part of a network of venues open across Wiltshire where people can go to keep warm during the day without having to pay.
Mary told us: "We are unique in that we are relational and provide an atmosphere that feels as though our guests are part of the family."
But a lack of volunteers has left the future of the group in jeopardy, "Heart of the Community is in a critical position where, if we don't get any new volunteers, we will have to close at some point this year" Mary added.
Currently open at Coleman's Farm in Calne, three days a week, volunteers are needed for as much or as little time as they are able to give. Initially shadowing an experienced volunteer.
Roles taken on by volunteers are varied, there is no such thing as an average day - jobs include cooking food for anything from 8 to 16 people, befriending guests - listening and chatting to them and making refreshments. Admin tasks such as promotion on social media are also required.
"The majority of our guests are lonely and come to us to see a friendly face. They all have issues they are battling with, we need our volunteers to be the voice of peace and calm in their turbulent lives."
You can find out more about them here: https://www.heart-of-the-community.org/
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