Local people living around the historic Hartlepool Headland have welcomed a brand new Parish and Community Enablement (PACE) project, which opened its doors on Monday 12 August.
St Mary’s Tea Drop Inn is being run by volunteers with the support of St Cuthbert’s Care and held in rooms at the presbytery, which have kindly been made available by parish priest, Fr Nick Jennings.
Lots of local people came along on the opening day, each one looking forward to meeting new friends, catching up with old friends and sharing in the fun social activities together.
People of all ages enjoyed more than two hours together, chatting, sharing a beautiful buffet prepared by the volunteers and filling the rooms with laughter as they tried their hand at dingbats, bingo and a nursery rhyme quiz.
Welcoming both guests and volunteers, Fr Nick said, “I’m so pleased to have been involved in setting up our Tea Drop Inn together with St Cuthbert’s Care. It’s lovely to see such warmth and generosity of spirit having such a positive impact, not just on the lives of our guests and volunteers but on the community as a whole.”
St Mary’s Tea Drop Inn is held every Monday between 10.45am and 1pm at The Immaculate Conception (St Mary) Presbytery on Durham Street, Hartlepool. It costs £1.50 per person and there is no charge for carers.
If you or someone you know would like to come along to St Mary’s Tea Drop Inn or if you are interested in volunteering there, contact the church office on 01429 266080.
St Mary’s Tea Drop Inn is one of fifteen Parish and Community Enablement (PACE) projects around the region set up with the help of St Cuthbert’s Care and supported by local parishes. Each one is run by a team of volunteers from the local area.