AS people throughout the UK become ever closer to not being able to heat their homes amidst rising energy costs, 'warm banks' are being set up throughout the county.
According to recent data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), almost half of UK adults who pay energy bills have said they are struggling to afford them.
As a result, councils, NHS services and charities across the country are paving the way to offer a space where people can come in for heat and a cup of tea - taking advantage of a warm environment on offer without having to turn on their heating.
The need for warm spaces will grow over the coming weeks as the weather is forecasted to get much colder as we approach Christmas.
Community groups and organisations across Cumbria are being offered financial support to help people keep warm over winter.
Working in partnership with Cumbria County Council, Cumbria Community Foundation is offering funding to the voluntary and community sector to help create a network of places where people can go to keep warm and have company.
The Warm Spot Fund is providing grants of up to £1,000 per venue to expand capacity or to start up in a new venue.
For example, a community centre may apply to cover the costs of providing a designated space with chairs and hot drinks, open at regular times each week, or a parish hall may want to set up a coffee morning for the first time.
Where to find warm spaces
- Moot Hall in Brampton is a warm hub that recently opened and is available Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4pm.
- A wellness warm hub run by Copeland Borough Council at Whitehaven United Reformed Church Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm.
- Sessions have also begun at Millom Guide Hall every Tuesday, anyone is welcome, and Copeland’s Social Prescribing team and local community organisations are on hand to offer health and wellbeing advice, and signpost to services.
- Carlisle Matters, a charity which has a network of 12 community centres in Carlisle (including Brampton and Longtown), have applied for funding to offer their spaces as potential warm banks
- The Salvation Army is open in Carlisle on a Wednesday from 10:30am until 1pm to provide a warm space and Cornerstone is also open as a warm hub.
- Carlisle Community Help, are offering a community cafe on a Friday at their Brampton site, where people can come in for a cup of tea and enjoy the warm space - in exchange for a small donation.
- Next week, a warm hub will open at the community centre on Queen Street in Aspatria from Tuesdays until Fridays at 11am until 1pm.
- Kings Church in Cockermouth is also a warm hub and the oval centre in Workington is also open all week.
- Egremont Methodist church is open from 12pm until 3pm on Fridays for people to come together in a community warm hub.
- Many churches across the region are providing a community service to help people through these challenging times.
Cumbria CVS is keen to let people across Cumbria know about these great services, so they are setting up a Warm Spot interactive map and are asking as many places as possible who are providing a warm hub to get in touch so as many people as possible can be helped this winter.
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