The Welcome Directory

We had a conversation with a faith leader from a registered Christian faith community in North Wales about their process of registering with The Welcome Directory. They reflected on the journey towards building a culture of welcome and the importance of never giving up on people.

Our Community

Our church brings together several congregations and gatherings, creating different ways for people to connect and explore faith. Alongside a traditional Sunday morning congregation there’s a contemporary evening service and groups and activities throughout the week for children, young people and adults. These groups offer opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to find community and belonging.

Growing as a Welcoming Church

One of the church’s missional principles is to be inviting. As a leadership team, we intentionally worked to create an environment where everyone can belong and find a home. When we heard about The Welcome Directory, we immediately recognised that it reflected our developing vision and were keen to become involved.

Joining The Welcome Directory began with conversations and preaching across the whole church about God’s transforming love, the dignity of every person and the belief that someone’s past shouldn’t define their future. We wanted everyone to understand what being part of The Welcome Directory meant, and praying for people affected by the criminal justice system became a regular part of church life.

The church is also committed to making sure our welcome is safe. Leaders therefore worked closely with the safeguarding officer to ensure policies and procedures were robust but implemented with compassion. Where an individual’s circumstances require it, safeguarding agreements are put in place so that expectations are clear and everyone involved is protected.

"What many people long for most, is not excitement or entertainment, but community, acceptance and a sense of belonging."

Discover the Power of Belonging

The young prison leaver that I mentioned felt connected to a new community and now has a better circle of friends as a result. He occasionally pops in so I know he’s not returned to prison. I think we helped him out. Prison leavers who I’ve mentored still come and see me and tell me it was impactful for them at that time. This is important for me. 

Not long after joining the directory, one man approached the church wanting to attend services who was considered ‘high risk’ and so managed under a Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangement (you can find out more about how the MAPPA system works by watching the video on their website here). Following discussions with probation, a safeguarding agreement was written up, and it was agreed that he would attend a small midweek service attended by only a handful of adults.

We were concerned that this might feel restrictive and that he would miss being part of the larger and more lively congregations. Instead, something unexpected happened.

After several months, the man shared that attending the small service had been “the best thing that ever happened to me”. Having grown up without family, he said, “I’ve got five nanas now”, referring to the older members of the congregation who had taken him under their wing and looked out for him.

As trust grew and with the support of probation services, he began attending a Bible study group and continued to flourish. For church leaders, it was a powerful reminder that what many people long for most, is not excitement or entertainment, but community, acceptance and a sense of belonging. It also demonstrated that people with complicated backgrounds could be welcomed safely and thrive. And, as he flourished, it was wonderful to see how the whole community flourished as well; reminding us all of God’s transforming love and inspiring us to be more “real” and vulnerable with one another.

Working together to support people

Our church recognises that faith cannot be separated from people’s practical needs. We know that there is little point talking to someone about faith if they are hungry or worried about where they will sleep that night.

Over time, we built strong relationships with local organisations and agencies so that people could be signposted to the support they needed. The church also opens its doors to lots of community partners, offering free space for drop-ins and appointments. Working together strengthened the support available across the whole town and enabled our church to become a trusted partner for many different organisations.

Lessons learned

One of the most important lessons for us has been the need to persevere and not give up on people. Breaking cycles of offending and rebuilding lives takes time, patience and compassion. When people were recalled to prison or reconvicted, church members sought to maintain relationships and welcomed them back when they returned.

As leaders, we came to recognise that transformation is rarely straightforward. It is often a long journey, but one that becomes possible when people experience understanding, practical support and a community that refuses to give up on them.

For our church, being welcoming means more than opening the doors. It means creating spaces where people are treated with dignity, where safeguarding and compassion go hand in hand, and where everyone has the opportunity to find a place to belong.

Thank you to this faith community leader for sharing your time and story with us and for the difference this community is making for people who have left prison.

Disclaimer: This case study represents the individual’s views, not the views of theirorganisation 

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