Share a cuppa, have a natter and keep the chill at bay at a Warm Welcome Space
When the weather turns icy, it’s tempting to stay put at home and wait for it to pass. But when heating costs are a worry, staying in isn’t always the cosiest option. And spending long days inside can start feeling lonely too.
If we are struggling to keep our homes warm this winter, getting out for a while could really help. That is where Warm Welcome Spaces come in.
Around one in five UK households are in fuel poverty. So if we’re struggling, we’re certainly not alone. The Warm Welcome Campaign started as a crisis response to keep people warm during the winter.
They are free places in the community where we can warm up and spend some time. There is no need to explain ourselves. As the campaign puts it, people come in for the warmth, stay for the welcome, and leave with a smile.
Over the past few years, a network of warm spaces has sprung up across the UK. Now, it has developed into a movement across the UK with over 4,000 spaces to bring people together. Each week, they host over 120,000 visitors.
Extra perks
It is not only about staying warm. Many spaces offer activities for adults and children. Arts and crafts, games, dancing, or simply sitting down for a chat. It is a simple way to break up the day and feel more connected.
There may also be other services on offer, such as free food and wifi, and sockets for charging our devices, and even help with getting online.
And if we’re feeling down or worried about heating and food bills, we can get support. Warm Welcome Spaces can help us with practical advice and signpost us to other local support like food banks and money guidance experts.
How do I find a warm space?
To find a local Warm Welcome Space, click here. All we need to do is enter our location and scroll to see which space suits us best. We can filter by amenities such as parking, accessible toilets, child friendly, and more!
Image: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock
