Two of our diocesan fresh expressions of Church scooped first place at the inaugural Voluntary Action Leicester & Leicestershire (VALL) awards ceremony.
SoundCafé Leicester which provides a safe creative space for adults who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, vulnerable or socially isolated won the City Award for Small Charity of the Year, while The Well at Kibworth won the equivalent award for the County.
SoundCafé offers opportunities to promote well-being, confidence and self-esteem through enabling their guests to take part in creative activities including music, poetry, arts, crafts, drawing and painting. They also have the SoundCafé choir who rehearse each week on a Wednesday in Leicester Cathedral and will be performing a Christmas Carol Special on Saturday 7th December 12.30-2.30pm in the Cathedral - all welcome.
The Well has a high street presence in Kibworth as a permanent place of prayer and reflection, set within a cafe and second hand clothes shop. It hosts a whole range of activities which benefit the local community, including a Dementia Café, a group for teenage girls, a Christian listening service, free legal advice, and activities for seniors.
“It’s a real honour to have received this award," said Roz Burch, Chair of Sound Café, adding: “I am so proud of our whole team who put in 120% into each session for our guests. I am equally pleased for our guests to see homelessness being this attention and priority.”
Emma Dowman, Centre Manager at the Well, was equally delighted, saying: “We are humbled to receive this award out of a pool of so many other wonderful charities but are excited to embrace the new possibilities it will bring our way. This is a touch of God's grace and we are eager to share that with others."