We Positively Transform Lives and Restore Hope throughout South Wales
UK Registered Charity 1189467
What We Do
We work to positively transform lives. Whether it is poverty, addiction, isolation or loneliness, we believe anyone that is in need can find hope and companionship through listening ears and willing hearts.
Our Approach
We utilise a boots-on-the-ground process to restore hope and encourage those in need. Whether its opening our doors as Neath Town Centre’s “Warm Hub facility”, or by providing clothing, toiletries, or resources to any in need, or by giving a rough sleeper a warm cup of coffee or blankets – the Gathering Place offers its services free of charge in a non-judgmental, non-invasive environment in Neath Town Centre.
Our Mission
We positively transform lives and restore hope throughout South Wales. Through boots-on-the-ground outreaches, outstanding counselling facilities, and through our network of connected ministries, programmes and services, we desire to see every life we touch become the radiant life it was created to be.
About The Gathering Place
The Gathering Place was formed under a small charity constitution in June of 2019 with a mission to restore and renew the lives of those in need throughout South Wales. Operating from a store-front location in Swansea City Centre, The Gathering Place quickly became known as a beneficial counselling and items resource for those suffering from poverty, addiction, trafficking, prostitution, and rough sleeping.
Due to its regional impact in regards to its quick response to the isolated and in need due to the Coronavirus pandemic, The Gathering Place was awarded UK Registered Charity status in April 2020 (Charity number 1189467).
The Gathering Place additionally resources a vast number of South Wales hospitals, nursing homes, mental wards, churches, and councils with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), clothing items (pyjamas, underwear, socks, leisure wear), toiletries, food items, and refreshments for staff, patients, and anyone in need or isolating. As the SA1 hub of the nationally recognised Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK Support Network, the Gathering Place is uniquely equipped to handle the needs of those affected by coronavirus and Covid-19.
In late 2023, we were excited to launch the beginnings of our Compassionate Cuisine programme, providing nutritious vegan meals and sandwiches to those in our community free of charge select days of the week. By providing the impoverished with nutritious (and free) food options and choices (along with our other offerings of free clothing, toiletries, and counselling services), our aim is to help individuals and families not just get their feet under them, but to thrive!
The Gathering Place is 100% funded by donations and grants offered by those who believe in its mission to reach those in need. At no time do the trustees, directors, volunteer counsellors, or volunteers take any salary from the Gathering Place. Every pence donated or granted to The Gathering Place goes towards the transformation of lives and restoring of hope throughout South Wales.
Who We Are
The Gathering Place is not just a building. It is a collection of licensed pastors, counsellors, community activists, and passionate volunteers dedicated to reaching out to, and caring for, the hurting, the neglected, isolated, and in-need.
We are passionate about the people of our communities, and believe that everyone has been designed and created for purpose and love, no matter their current situation or past mistakes.
Every Life is Precious
Whether it’s as simple as a warm cup of coffee, a place for simple respite, or a kind word; or as complex as multiple counselling sessions, a selection of clothes, pairs of shoes, sleeping bags to protect against the elements, or access to computers and printers, The Gathering Place exists to provide those in need with valuable resources to impact lives positively.
The Gathering Place is a judgment-free zone where everyone is welcome, where the only agenda is to create amazing and worthwhile change.
Community Impact
At the heart of The Gathering Place is a desire to see lives positively transformed and hope restored in the lives of the broken. Whether that is through distribution of PPE to healthcare professionals, or care packages to those in need, providing counselling and pointing people to proper resource channels, giving toiletries and clothing items such as shoes or coats, or providing the neglected a place of refreshment and respite from a harsh world, The Gathering Place is uniquely positioned to assist the people of Swansea and South Wales.
2024 Raised Funds
Food Packages & Clothing Items Distributed
Lives Touched
% of funds directed to Gathering Place Community Outreach
We Are a Safe Place
The statistics for Swansea and Neath, Wales are staggering:
- South Wales leads the United Kingdom in opioid deaths (BBC Wales) and drug addiction is rife throughout the region.
- Per capita, Swansea is considered by many the sex trade and trafficking capital of Wales, with over 100 known prostitutes, escorts and street walkers within its limits. Its High Street is dubbed “the worst in Britain,” where sex can be bought for as little as £10 (Mirror, Sun, BBC Wales)
- Neath holds the highest urban crime rate in Wales, with 105 crimes committed per 1000 people
- South Wales has the highest suicide rate in the United Kingdom (walesonline)
- Multiple urban areas of Neath and Swansea fall within the worst 5% deprived in the UK (WIMD 2019)
- Over 30% of South Wales lives in poverty, with coronavirus devastating food banks and other resources
The Gathering Place offers resources such as care packages, food, resources, clothing, refreshments, and qualified volunteer counsellors free of charge to meet the needs of all who walk through its doors.
We Seek Out the Isolated, At-Risk, & In-Need
We actively work with local hospitals, mental wards, nursing homes, churches, councils, and community organisations to meet the needs of those impacted by coronavirus, Covid-19, and other related issues. We use our resources to provide Personal Protective Equipment, care packages, clothing, food items, toiletries, and other items free of charge.
Our agenda is simple – to restore lives, renew hope, and to help people become the light upon a hill that they were created to be.
Ongoing & Upcoming Projects
We are currently raising funds and support for the following projects:
- Community Shop Expansion
The Gathering Place is known across Neath as a place where anyone can find quality clothing, shoes, blankets, and toiletries free of charge. Demand has grown so quickly that our current space cannot hold the generosity of donations pouring in. Too many items sit hidden in storage when they could be in the hands of those who need them most. In 2025, we are working to expand and refit our shop with new hanging rails, shelving, and display units so that every coat, pair of shoes, and blanket is available with dignity and ease. - Warm Hub 2025
With energy prices still high and many families facing cold homes, our Warm Hub continues as a vital refuge. Open through the winter months, it offers a safe and welcoming space where people can share a hot drink, find blankets and coats, and simply rest in warmth. For those with no other safe place to go, the Hub is more than heat. It is community, care, and relief from isolation. - Compassionate Cuisine
Launched in late 2023, Compassionate Cuisine has already served thousands of free, nutritious meals to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, or food insecurity. In 2025 we are seeking to expand this programme by upgrading our kitchen with a reliable oven, industrial refrigeration, and greater preparation space. With these improvements we will be able to serve more meals each week, ensuring no one is turned away hungry. - Building a Place of Dignity and Care
All of our projects point to one vision: a community hub where people who are homeless, neglected, or struggling can find food, clothing, warmth, and connection. Each improvement, whether in the kitchen, the shop, or the gathering space, is about more than equipment or furniture. It is about restoring dignity and giving people the chance to begin again. -
Community Music Programme (Upcoming)
We are preparing to launch a new music programme that will give those facing homelessness, poverty, or social isolation the chance to heal and connect through creativity. Music has always had the power to restore dignity and bring people together. Our vision is to create a safe space where individuals who would otherwise never have access to instruments or lessons can discover their own voice, build confidence, and find belonging.
Success Stories
Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.”
“I would like to say, on behalf of the Mental Health Team a BIG BIG thank you for your Charity’s support in providing the care packs for our new ward. I have attached a photo and I can confirm that we have utilised several packs already! We can’t thank you enough for your generosity.”
Our Office
18 Queen Street
Neath, Wales. SA11 1DL United Kingdom
Contact Us
+44 7469 772624
thegatheringplaceneath@gmail.com