The Space at Riverside

This morning I visited The Space at the Riverside Club in Eynsford. Established just before Christmas as a Warm Space but focusing increasingly on building community and addressing social isolation, the Space has seen sharply increasing attendance at its Wednesday morning open sessions. (Mean attendance has been 60, but last week it was 97). Just in the hour that I was there this morning (and that was shortly after opening at 9), a growing number of people were coming in.

The Space has been developed by Darent Valley Community Church and has secured grants in its early months from Sevenoaks District Council. It serves food and has provided a warm space over the winter, but its main focus on addressing isolation and offering meals, activities and learning (in particular, in relation to IT) speaks to many of the themes emphasised in KCC’s Framing Kent’s Future and to our emphasis, and that of many public agencies on the role of social links and contacts in strengthening both individuals and communities.

My thanks to Adrian Elms, Pastor of DVCC and all those involved in The Space who made me so welcome this morning. I expect to be back.