Gaby Roslin has a very Warm Welcome at Jacksons Lane

We loved taking our friend Gaby Roslin to meet the wonderful team at Jacksons Lane in Highgate. Gaby Roslin, TV presenter, radio broadcaster, and author, joined David Barclay, Campaign Director for Warm Welcome, and Myra Johnson, Warm Welcome’s Director of Communications for the day. Gaby had a brilliant day, experiencing the magic and joy that Warm Welcome Spaces like Jacksons Lane make to people’s lives.

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Adrian Berry, Artistic Director and Joint CEO, and Maxime Singleton, Creative Engagement Officer, gave Gaby a very Warm Welcome, and a special tour of the fantastic historic building.

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A wall of kindness
First up was the café space, complete with its Wall of Kindness. The idea is that anyone coming to Jacksons Lane can add a voucher to the café’s Wall of Kindness. It’s a lovely idea; you can add a voucher to the wall by purchasing it from the café and pinning it to the board. You can get vouchers for everything, from a cup of coffee to a pastry or a sandwich. Everyone coming to the Warm Welcome Space is welcome to select a voucher from the Wall of Kindness. Just take one from the wall and bring it to the café counter, and the item is yours for free. No questions asked.

Everyone has a Warm Welcome
Jacksons Lane works with people of all ages across north London, focusing on using the arts and creativity to increase confidence, reduce isolation, and improve wellbeing. Jacksons Lane is part of the Haringey Warm Welcome Network, supporting people across the London Borough. This winter, their doors will be open to anyone who needs a place to go between 10am and 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sundays.

Joining the Social Lunch
Gaby joined Jacksons Lane for their monthly Warm Welcome Social Lunch. By the time we arrived, the room was packed with guests from the local community, chatting together and looking forward to some musical entertainment and a shared meal.

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Along with other activities, Jacksons Lane offers guests a monthly Social Lunch, compered by and attended by members of the local community. A delicious two-course meal is served for guests to enjoy. Tea, coffee, and biscuits are also a given as we settle in for an afternoon of performances. Alongside community acts, singers and drag queens wow the audience with sets throughout the event. It is a warm and welcoming space for both regulars and new faces. And everyone is welcome to come in, keep warm, and join Jacksons Lane’s lively social lunch.

Gaby loved joining Warm Welcome guests for a very special lunch, starting with a wonderful cabaret sing-along. Gaby rolled up her sleeves, helping to serve a delicious lunch, chatting with guests, and experiencing the magic that Warm Welcome Spaces make to people’s lives every day. It was a joyous occasion for everyone.

An Extra Special Christmas
The guests at Jacksons Lane are looking forward to a very special Christmas together. 2024 marks the 50th Christmas Day lunch at Jacksons Lane. On the big day, Jacksons Lane staff and more than 100 volunteers will be supporting 300 older adults in north London who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day.

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Jacksons Lane’s Christmas Day programme harkens back to its earliest days as a church, as well as its community-oriented origins in the 1970s. For decades, people have sought community within the building during the festive period. And the organisers have no intention of stopping now.

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Special thanks to the Jackson Lane team for making Gaby’s visit so special.

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Warm Welcome Spaces like Jacksons Lane are transforming people’s lives every day; they are places of belonging fuelled by human warmth, where new friendships are forged, and where people feel valued.

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