Community Kettle calls on Portsmouth to join Warm Welcome Week by donating bobble hats for a community display
Community Kettle CIC in Cosham is inviting residents to take part in Warm Welcome Week from January 19, as part of the national Warm Welcome Spaces campaign.
The volunteer‑run hub is asking people across the city to bring a bobble hat, which will form part of a large community display before being passed on to those who need warmth this winter.
Community Kettle is not just any Warm Welcome Space — it is officially recognised as a Warm Welcome National Champion, one of only 52 Champion Spaces in the entire country. This status is awarded to organisations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to inclusion, hospitality, and community‑led support.
Part of a national movement
Warm Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative encouraging organisations to open their doors during the coldest months, offering not just heat but connection, dignity, and a sense of belonging. As a National Champion, Community Kettle represents Portsmouth on the national stage, showcasing how underused spaces can be transformed into thriving hubs of support.
Breakfast support for local families
One of the key initiatives being highlighted during the week is the Feed Your Belly Breakfast Club, which runs term‑time from 7.30–9am. The club provides a warm, nutritious start to the day for children and families, offering breakfast, routine, and a friendly welcome before school.
Demand for the club continues to grow as families navigate rising living costs and increasingly busy mornings.
Pay It Forward with Kettle tokens
Community Kettle will also be promoting its Kettle Token pay‑it‑forward scheme, which allows anyone to buy a token that covers a drink, snack, or warm meal for someone who needs it. The organisation is now inviting local businesses to become official payment points, helping the scheme reach more people across Portsmouth.
Volunteer Tara Healy said: “Becoming a Kettle Token point is a simple way for local shops, cafés, and workplaces to support their community. It means kindness can be passed on all year round.”
A bobble hat display with purpose
Throughout Warm Welcome Week, Community Kettle will collect bobble hats from residents to create a colourful display inside the hub. The display will act as a visual symbol of community spirit — and at the end of the week, every hat will be donated to someone who needs warmth this winter.
A space for families and connection
Visitors during Warm Welcome Week will also be able to enjoy the hub’s dedicated Kids Zone, a safe and friendly space filled with toys, books, and activities for little ones. The area allows parents to relax, connect with others, or take part in sessions while children play nearby.
A growing community effort
Community Kettle CIC has transformed an underused building into a thriving intergenerational hub powered almost entirely by volunteers. The organisation says Warm Welcome Week is an opportunity to celebrate the city’s generosity and highlight the importance of community spaces during winter.
“Warm Welcome Week is about opening our doors even wider,” the team said. “We want people to feel part of something — whether they come for breakfast, a chat, a craft session, or simply a warm room. The bobble hat display is our way of showing what Portsmouth can do when we come together.”