Hope Starts with a Warm Welcome

Our partners in Stoke hit the local news this week as they celebrated the launch of Jericho: Come As You Are, a new warm, welcoming space offering free food, company, and practical support to people experiencing homelessness or hardship.

Based at St Stephen’s Church in Bentilee, Jericho is led by Louise Davies, Craig Marsh and a team of dedicated volunteers who create a safe place for anyone needing warmth, rest, or a friendly conversation. Their commitment to caring for the most vulnerable in their community shines through the whole project.

As part of their wider presence in the area, KEYS volunteers spend time at Jericho, getting to know those who attend and offering a familiar point of connection. This gentle, relational approach helps ensure that, if someone is looking for additional support, including recovery‑focused help, they feel comfortable reaching out and know where to find it.

One of the great strengths of our partner churches is the way different ministries sit alongside one another, each with its own identity and purpose, yet naturally linking together in the lives of local people. Jericho is a wonderful example of how these ministries complement one another: a warm space standing firmly in its own mission, while also opening doors to other forms of support when individuals choose to explore them.

We’re incredibly proud of our partners in Stoke and our friends at St John’s Welcome Centre for stepping out with compassion and creativity to meet a real need in their community and for building bridges between crisis support and long‑term recovery.