Our Projects
At Compassionate Kenilworth, we’re dedicated to supporting our community through meaningful initiatives that address social isolation, loneliness, financial hardship, and wellbeing.
Following a town-wide survey in 2022, conducted during the cost of living crisis, we identified the areas where our community most needed support — places to connect, energy advice, and food support.
Since then, our projects have grown and evolved. With the support of 25 volunteers, two part-time staff and multiple valuable partnerships with local organisations, service clubs and charities, we’ve built a network of warm, welcoming spaces where people can find connection, learning opportunities, and practical help when life feels challenging.
Together, we look for gaps in local provision and work to fill them.
Bereavement Cafés
Launched in May 2022 with the support of Surviving Bereavement, our monthly Bereavement Café offers a compassionate space for those navigating grief. Attendees find empathy, friendship, and understanding from others who share similar experiences and many have made strong and supportive friendships outside of the group. The café also provides access to practical advice and ongoing emotional support in a safe, caring environment.
Through running this café, we identified a gap in provision for younger adults who had experienced bereavement. While our regular sessions are largely attended by those who are middle-age and upwards, we noticed several young people in their 20s were attending and looking for connection with peers closer to their own age.
In response, since April 2025, we’ve hosted multiple Young Person’s Bereavement Café sessions for those aged 18+. These sessions provide a warm, welcoming space where young adults can share experiences, support one another, and build their own peer support group.
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Digital Tech Café
Our Digital Tech Café at The Kenilworth Centre has been running since Autumn 2022, helping to bridge the digital divide. Volunteers from Cheylesmore Good Neighbours, Warwick University, Kenilworth School 6th Form, and our own CK team offer free digital support to help participants develop IT skills, build confidence, and stay connected — all over a friendly cup of tea or coffee.
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Arts & Crafts Sessions
Our Arts & Crafts Sessions, running since June 2021, are all about connection, creativity, and community — not artistic skill. This isn’t a sophisticated art group, it’s a relaxed social group where people come together for a friendly chat, a cuppa, and some simple, stress-free arts and crafts.
People can join in with the easy activities we provide or bring along their own project, or simply sit and enjoy the company — there’s no pressure to take part in the crafts at all.
Everyone is welcome, and the sessions are accessible to people of all abilities providing a lovely way to unwind, meet new people, and feel part of a caring, supportive community.
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Tuesday Hub – St. Vincent de Paul (SVP)
Launched in November 2022 in response to the cost of living crisis, this vibrant weekly hub — delivered by St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) and supported by Compassionate Kenilworth — now welcomes up to 60 attendees each week.
Visitors enjoy conversation, games and quizzes in a warm, supportive space. The hub has also hosted informative sessions on topics such as Scam Awareness, Fire Safety, and Home Energy Support, and Warwickshire Citizens Advice Bureau have provided on-site benefit support. During the summer months, a family arts and crafts activity runs alongside the hub.
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Dementia Support
We have worked closely with social prescribers in Kenilworth to support a number of their dementia drop-In sessions and we distribute our Dementia Information Leaflets, which highlight local activities and services.
Our team also signposts individuals and carers to additional community resources and welcomes those living with dementia to our activities — ensuring they can participate safely and comfortably.
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Our Partnership with The Kenilworth Centre (tKC)
Since September 2022, we’ve partnered with The Kenilworth Centre to co-deliver a range of inclusive community hubs and initiatives, including:
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Community Dinners: Launched in October 2022 with sponsorship from Cook, these monthly Sunday meals offer warmth, companionship, and wholesome food for anyone who might otherwise eat alone.
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Board Games Hub: A free, monthly gathering in the tKC youth room for families and individuals to relax and enjoy games together.
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Community Kitchen: Supported locally placed asylum seekers by providing kitchen access to cook food from their home countries (project concluded January 2024 when local hotel closed).
Food Support
Slow Cooker Course
Our annual four-week Slow Cooker Course teaches participants how to prepare healthy, low-cost meals. Each attendee receives a free slow cooker, ingredients, and energy-saving tips, alongside the opportunity to connect socially and share ideas.
Supermarket Voucher Scheme
In partnership with local referrers — including social prescribers, schools, and faith groups — we provide emergency supermarket vouchers to individuals and families facing financial crisis. We also ensure access to further support through signposting and onward referrals, following Food Bank criteria.
Additionally, The Kenilworth Centre serves as both a referral and collection point for Warwick District Foodbank, making it easier for those in need to access essential food support.
Kenilworth School Breakfast Provision
No child should start their day hungry. In partnership with The Kenilworth Centre, we provide a breakfast service at Kenilworth Secondary School, ensuring that students arriving without food can get access to food to start their day — helping them focus and learn.
Town-Wide Volunteering Initiative
In March 2025, we began working with local service groups — including the Round Table, Lions Club, Soroptimists and Rotary Club — who together deliver many of Kenilworth’s much-loved annual fundraising and family events such as the Fireworks Display, Lions Grand Show, Two Castles Run, and Rotary Advent Calendar.
Through these discussions, we identified a shared challenge: many of these events were struggling to find enough volunteers to help make them happen.
To address this, Compassionate Kenilworth launched a town-wide casual volunteering programme, allowing residents to sign up for one-off volunteering opportunities rather than committing long-term to a particular group. This flexible approach makes it easier for people to get involved, support local events, and give back to the community in a way that fits their time and lifestyle.
We will continue to promote this initiative each year, building a growing pool of casual volunteers who can step in to help when needed — ensuring Kenilworth’s much-loved community events can continue to thrive for years to come.
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Our Impact
Every one of our projects is community-driven, inclusive, and designed to make a real difference.
Whether through providing social connection, warmth, food, technology skills, or emotional / peer support, we are proud to play a role in building a stronger, happier, compassionate and healthier Kenilworth.
To hear how we're helping, watch the short video here:
