Community breakfasts for the homeless and others in Torquay

Free weekly community breakfasts are the “crowning glory” of the Warm Welcome Space at Torquay Library, according to Sarah Kennedy, library supervisor.

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Created specifically to support local people who are homeless, the breakfasts nevertheless draw a large, mixed crowd.

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With up to 50 space guests every week, Torquay Library has some established regular visitors and others who dip in and out.

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“Some are new and that's always exciting. We are getting a wide cross section of age groups, there have been a small number of Primary School aged children and one baby. We are beginning to see a larger number of homeless people which is exactly who we wanted to help alongside families and anyone struggling to make ends meet,” says Sarah.

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The gatherings have had contributions from Action for Children, Libraries Unlimited head of health and wellbeing, Torbay’s Community Builders and a local children’s nursery manager brought a young family.

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More visits are planned, including a group of local Eco support organisations who are going to talk to people about the cost-of-living crisis and give advice and tips on being green and saving money.

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The space has even been visited by the former local MP Kevin Foster with another visit planned in February by current MP Steve Darling, cementing its place at the heart of its community.

Sarah says that traditionally libraries are dead from December to January and “it has not felt like that” this year.

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There are now more than 1,350 libraries registered as Warm Welcome Spaces across the UK and we know that many libraries are offering similar support to their communities to those in Torquay. This Warm Welcome Week we’re delighted to shine a light on the work of Torquay Library and its community breakfasts in particular.