Our Story
The Keepers – Wotton Area Community Hub has grown from the volunteer-led Wotton Area Mutual Aid group (WAMA), which was set up to support people in Wotton-under-Edge and the surrounding area through the Coronavirus pandemic.
From March 2020 – March 2021 WAMA volunteers supported communities across Wotton and the surrounding area by:
responding to just over 800 requests from local people for help with shopping, collecting prescriptions etc
shopping, packing and delivering 14,051 meals to individuals and families
Although times were unusual due to Coronavirus, WAMA realised that many people had been struggling to connect with the right support services for a long time. Loneliness and isolation was increasingly mentioned and for some, affording regular healthy meals for themselves and their family was a real concern.
As a result, WAMA volunteers decided to set up The Keepers – Wotton Area Community Hub on Symn Lane in Wotton-under-Edge.
Since April 2021, the Community Hub has been supported by a small group of staff and a large number of volunteers, providing a friendly, welcoming space for everyone. It’s early days, but the Hub aims to offer and support activities to help residents feel connected and supported in their communities and will be linked to existing local services and organisations.
We are excited about the future of the Community Hub and hope to grow and evolve with the communities around us, offering support and help when and where it is needed.
For more information about how to get involved or offer support, contact us… we’d love to hear from you!