The History of The Well
Twenty years ago in January 2006, a founder shared her vision of praying for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the whole of Lent at a local service. This crazy idea sparked a group of people from both churches in Kibworth to work towards making it a reality. After 40 days, it became clear that the vision couldn’t end there. Five of the 13 people had the same vision of a permanent place in Kibworth. Aa place of prayer plus a coffee shop, a safe place for young and old. Properties became available, but which one was the right one? Confirmation came through the revelation that there was a well in the garden – hence the name The Well.
Christian Ethos
Founded on a Christian ethos with a vision of creating a welcoming place at the heart of the community, The Well has grown significantly over the last few years into a vital source of support for local residents across Kibworth and the surrounding villages.
What began as a community-focused initiative has developed into a thriving charity offering practical help, friendship and hope to people from all walks of life. At the centre of the charity’s approach is partnership working. By collaborating closely with local organisations, support agencies, churches, councils and voluntary groups, The Well helps connect people with free advice, guidance and support services. Whether someone is struggling financially, facing isolation, or simply unsure where to turn, the charity works alongside trusted partners to ensure help is accessible and delivered with dignity and compassion.
Community Cafe
A key part of The Well is its welcoming community café, which has become a popular meeting place for residents of all ages. Offering freshly prepared food and drinks at competitive prices, the café provides a warm and friendly environment where everyone is welcome. Importantly, every purchase made in the café directly supports the charity’s wider work in the community, helping to generate vital income that enables services to continue and grow.
Alongside the café, the charity’s pre-loved clothing shop has become another valued community asset. The shop provides affordable access to good quality clothing and accessories for individuals and families, while also promoting a more sustainable approach to fashion. By encouraging people to donate, reuse and recycle clothing, the initiative helps reduce waste going to landfill and gives pre-loved items a new lease of life.
Food Bank
One of the charity’s most significant developments came during the Covid-19 pandemic, when The Well launched its food bank in response to increasing local need. Initially created as an emergency response during an unprecedented time, the food bank quickly became a lifeline for many households. Sadly, the challenges faced by many families did not disappear once the pandemic eased. Rising energy costs, food prices and wider financial pressures linked to the cost of living crisis have continued to place many households under strain.
Today, the food bank operates four days a week, providing emergency food support to individuals and families experiencing financial hardship. The service now supports people from Kibworth and a wide surrounding rural area, offering not only food but also a listening ear, practical guidance and connections to further support services where needed.
As The Well continues to grow, its mission remains the same: to be a place of welcome, compassion and practical support for the whole community. Through its café, clothing shop, food bank and partnership work, the charity continues to demonstrate the power of communities coming together to support one another.
Read more at our website www.thewellkibworth.org and follow our social channels too.
Andy Wright
Operations Manager
Kibworth Ladies Choir
