A storage firm has stepped in to pay the first month’s rent for a new community hub launched by two bereaved mums to combat isolation.
Breakfast raves, ghost story nights and a “pay as you feel” café are among the ways The Loss Lounge is bringing people together in Newtown.
Friends Alice Jones and Emma Edwards say their new Market Street base offers a safe, welcoming space for anyone in need of company.
Other ideas in the pipeline include hosting a children’s pamper party in May and weekly sessions for families who home-school their children to reduce feelings of isolation. The hub also has a sharing library, a knitting basket and a journaling corner.
Lock Stock Self Storage is covering the first month’s rent to help the volunteer-run project get off the ground.
Alice said:
“We are extremely grateful for Lock Stock’s donation; it has helped us massively to have a month paid for. We are a non-profit organisation and we are all volunteers here, so it was amazing to have that extra help and support.
“We have opened the community hub to create a safe space for anybody that needs a quiet and relaxed environment. The hub is for the whole community; it’s a space for anybody to use as they feel they need.
“We have a donation-based cafe, which is pay as you feel, where we offer teas, coffees, cakes, fresh bread, fresh-pressed juice and daily smoothies.”
Lock Stock area manager Alan Brightmore said:
“What Emma and Alice are doing is truly inspiring and it is great to see how the Loss Lounge is evolving to help all parts of the community.
“As Lock Stock is a community-minded business, we are delighted to be able to help Alice and Emma in their journey.
“The hub gives the people of Newtown something different and offers a relaxing and welcoming space to anyone who needs it. It is a fantastic place for everyone to enjoy.”
Alice and Emma became friends after finding out they had both suffered the tragic loss of a child. Alice’s son Ronnie was born prematurely and died at 15 months old in November 2021. Emma’s son, Ewen, was born sleeping at 36 weeks, six days in March 2024.
They initially launched the Loss Lounge to help bereaved families, and say the opening of the hub has allowed them to broaden the support they give to everyone in the community.
Emma said the community hub had received great support from many businesses. She gave thanks to DM Painting and Decorating, BCreations, Carl and Serena from All Toe-gether Podiatry, Carpet Rack in Shrewsbury, Layla from Snap and Social, Malimacs, Food Surplus and Morrisons community champion Jenny.
Emma added:
“The support from the community has been overwhelming. We are more than happy to have donations or hear from anybody who wants to help because we are self-funded at the moment.
“We are also open to anybody who wants to hire this space as long as it’s along our wellbeing ethos, or to families who want to have a gathering.”
Founded in 2000, Lock Stock has over 5,700 storage units providing more than five million cubic feet of space at more than 35 storage parks across North and Mid Wales, the border counties and the north west.
