© 2010 Bridging the Gap, Reg’d Charity 1093921                                                 8/10

Web design: Roger Wilcox

Bridging the Gap has been offering free support, direction and guidance to the people of Willenhall for the past ten years. We operate in the town centre in a shop-fronted three storey building.

Willenhall is typical of many of the small, Black Country communities which developed and grew following the 19th century industrial revolution. Each town had its own variety of metalworking trade, that of Willenhall being lock-making.

Once employing more than 4,000 local people, the industry has been in terminal decline in recent

Bridging the Gap has been set up by the Churches of Willenhall, to provide one-stop help in a welcoming

and accessible setting - a charity shop. We estimate

that, in a typical year, we will have some 38,000 people/visits. Most will browse for a bargain, many

will stop for a conversation or informal advice, while

a considerable number will take the opportunity to engage with us more deeply.  

years and is now only a shadow of what it once was. Currently, our major lock-making factories are being demolished. Gone too is the sense of purpose that involvement in a world-wide trade gave to Willenhall people. Today, parts of the town sit high on the scale of multiple social deprivation, impacting  home and family.

Using a small drop-in area at the rear of the shop, we give time to listen to people, some-times sign-posting them to the right agency for help. Most times, though, we have the skills and resources to help.  

We have a quiet room on the first floor, where we can offer ongoing money advice, bereavement support, personal guidance, a listening ear and the like. We also work with and accommodate other groups, one giving support to families with a drug-related problem, the other is alcohol-dependency related.

So, if you are passing by ever, please do call in and say ‘hello’. We would love to meet you.

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