As the cost of living crisis continues, the Old Fire Station community centre on Mayton Street is opening its doors again to provide a warm and welcoming space for people in need of support.
Run by the Holloway Neighbourhood Group, a local charity which offers a wealth of advice and support and builds connections to empower people to lead fulfilled lives as part of their community, the warm space is open each Wednesday until the end of May from 12:30-3:30pm.
The warm space provides a relaxed place for local people to come together and enjoy a bowl of homemade soup and other refreshments, as well as board games and newspapers.
Each session is facilitated by a dedicated member of staff, signposting people to sources of support around issues such as income maximisation, employment, social activities, and physical and mental health services.
Introducing our warm packs
Organisers will also be distributing warm packs to local residents to help them keep warm at home, ensuring that support reaches beyond the walls of the Old Fire Station.
Warm packs include items such as an electric blanket, slow cooker, draught excluder, room thermometer and heating timer, as well as warm clothes like hats, gloves and socks.
Funding for the warm space and warm packs has been provided by Clarion Futures, and the Rothesay Foundation.
Thanks to the additional funding provided by the Rothesay Foundation, we will be able to double the number of warm spaces supported, taking the total to 50 across England, and offer warm packs for community organisations to distribute to local people in need.
Eira Gibson, Chief Executive of the Holloway Neighbourhood Group, said:
“It’s hard to put into words how critical something so seemingly simple can be – you need to step into the space to feel the warmth not only from the space and the soup but the people, connecting and sharing in normal everyday challenges.
We’re so grateful for the support of Clarion Futures and the Rothesay Foundation – without them this just wouldn’t be possible.”
Find your local warm space
Our warm spaces are open across the country, they are also a great place to meet your neighbours, make new friends and discover information about support services available in your local area.
There is no need to book, and it is completely free to access.
