The cost of living crisis continues to put the squeeze on household budgets as everyday food prices continue to rise, inflation remains in the double digits and energy bills show no signs of coming down before summer. While we welcome the warmer days of late winter and longer daylight hours, many households are still struggling to heat their homes.
According to the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, 16.4 million people will be in fuel poverty this winter. However, many people in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland may not be aware of a new interactive map - signposted on the GOV.UK Cost of Living microsite - which has details of 4,261 ‘Warm Welcome Spaces’ which have opened their doors to the public.
The network of community organisations, churches, libraries, businesses and other faith groups across the UK have opened their doors to provide heat, Wi-Fi, hot drinks and company to anyone in the area who needs it. The best bit is that all you have to do is enter your postcode to find what’s available near you.
The Warm Welcome Campaign is the community response to the crisis and explains: ‘We are determined to equip and support thousands of free, warm, and welcoming spaces in communities across the UK.
“Working with churches and other faith groups, civil society organisations, businesses and Local Authorities, we want to make sure that nobody is left to suffer on their own this winter.”
The website explains that each warm welcome space will be:
- Free: Warm Welcome spaces will be free to enter.
- Warm: Warm Welcome spaces are heated and able to provide basic refreshments such as tea and coffee.
- Welcoming: Warm Welcome spaces are inclusive, non-judgmental spaces where everyone can expect a warm welcome from staff and volunteers.
- Safe: Every organisation setting up a Warm Welcome space will abide by their usual safeguarding policies and hygiene rules. Organisations will make basic signposting information available to people who need further support and help.
Paula Stringer, CEO of Christians Against Poverty, said: “Millions of people struggling on low incomes are looking at this winter with dread, with families worrying about how to afford basic essentials like food and heating.
“Warm Welcome Hubs are a beacon of warmth and friendship, and across the UK our partner churches are opening their doors and hearts. Anyone can pop in for a cup of tea, or more, and be warmly welcomed."
Enter your postcode here to find your nearest Warm Welcome Space.
To keep up to date with the latest cost of living news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out four times each week - sign up here.
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