We at Action Hampshire hope that by providing this information, we can support those who need it in our local area and beyond, and encourage our readers, if they are able, to share these resources and open warm hubs of their own.
In an attempt to tackle the dangers of a winter without heat or electricity, organisations like Warm Welcome have been providing resources on locating ‘Warm Hubs’- locations which can be used to get access to heat in a similar way to food banks providing for the members of our community struggling to feed themselves and their families. You can find Warm Welcome via this link.
According to a report by the Institute of Health Equity, via this link, it is predicted that “significant health, social and education detriment for a new generation of children if, as forecast, 55% of the UK’s households (around 15 million people), fall into fuel poverty by January 2023 without effective interventions.” The report highlights, that this will hit the most vulnerable and marginalised groups, such as disabled people who “face higher energy bills due to having additional needs (such as medical equipment that requires a power source) and spending longer periods at home” and minority ethnic households who are “more likely to be in fuel poverty than White households” due to income inequality. You can learn more about this via the VONNE website at this link, where they also provide support for the Northeast’s voluntary sector. VONNE (a VCSE infrastructure organisation like Action Hampshire in the North of England) have also provided a detailed Cost of Living Crisis resource pack, with wider information about the current crisis and a list of tips for staying warm this Winter. Click this link for VONNE’s Cost of Living Crisis resource pack.
Council Action
Communities across Hampshire are being invited to apply to Hampshire County Council for support from the Leader’s Community Grants Scheme in order to create a network of warm hubs this winter. You can find information on these warm hubs via this link. CILIP have an informative news item on how Martin Lewis sparked conversation into warm hubs in early September, and highlights the importance of this movement. You can read CILIP’s article via this link.
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Rob Humby, said:
“As the colder months approach, we want to do what we can to support our local communities. We are therefore now inviting voluntary and community organisations to apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to develop and host warm hubs where people can gather together. This might be in the form of a regular coffee morning, or the provision of a shared activity, however, we welcome creative ideas and concepts that will deliver support, especially to our most vulnerable residents.”
The Warm Welcome Campaign is the community response to the cost of living crisis. By registering, not only will the public be able to find you, you will also receive guidance and resources to help you set up your space.
Funding
Following a telephone interview with BBC South report Jemma on HCC Grants for Warm hubs (Friday 21st of October 2022), you can find an online article about these grants (via this link) with this support readily available.
In Basingstoke our Communities Against Cancer Project Officer, Kishor Patel, is talking to Chairman of Brookvale Community Hall and Carnival Hall Community Centre to plan a warm hub and apply for HCC grant for extra equipment such as energy efficient air fryers and equipment to keep food warm. To save on energy they will hold warm hubs on days when the centre has other activities to minimise hall heating cost (initially one day a week but expand to two if demand is there, so please contact Kishor via this link if this is something you require).
The Winchester Warm Spaces list is coordinated by the Winchester branch of the Salvation Army and can be found by clicking this link to the Winchester Warm Spaces facebook or on the Winchester City of Sanctuary page via this link.
Our members, Munch CIC, have offered unlimited tea and soup and a warm space at their base in Winchester. Click this link to visit Munch’s page.
Havant
“Our first Warm Room afternoon has been a success! Hope to see you at the next one – lots of tea, cake, biscuits and hot soup!We have refreshed the space and will be offering warm refreshments and soup during the colder months. All are welcome to come along and join us to play games, chat or just sit in peace in the warm. Donations are welcome if people can afford it to help pay it forward for others. We would also like to thank Cllr Lulu Bowerman from Hampshire County Council for her financial contribution toward running costs.”
Libraries
Southampton
New Targeted Warm Space Project in Southampton
SO:Linked and partner organisations in Southampton are working on a targeted project supporting frail, older adults and adults with respiratory conditions to access Warm Spaces and cost of living support.
If you are working with an adult who meets this criteria please click this link and use the referral form to refer them to the service. Once received, the triage team will support them to access help from Warm Spaces at Padwell Road (nr the Avenue), Spectrum (nr Lodge Road) and St Marys Church (St Marys). Individuals can also be referred for information and advice from the Environment Centre and Citizens Advice.
Whitchurch
Whitchurch Warm Spaces (Hampshire): A Warm Space is a place that is available for everyone to sit in during the day as an alternative to heating their own home. Hot drinks will be provided. People are welcome to come and go as they please. They will be spaces where people can chat, or read, or snooze, or play board games or sew or knit. All ages are welcome.
The Warm Spaces we have at present are:
Tuesday 10am-4pm The White Hart
Thursday 10am-4pm The Methodist Church
We will shortly add The Town Hall on Wednesday and All Hallows church rooms on Saturday. We will tell you when these are starting. We are working towards having a warm space open every day of the week. The library is also available as a warm space, as noted by Virginia Lee earlier, their open hours are on their website.
Whitchurch Warm Spaces are being organised and supported by a number of Whitchurch churches (Methodist, Baptist, All Hallows(CofE)), the Whitchurch Welfare Trust, local councillors (Town and BDBC), The White Hart and Whitchurch Town Council. We hope to add other organisations as we move forward.
If you would like any more information or would like to volunteer please get in touch. Alison and Andrew Ricketts, AllHallowsVisitors@outlook.com. Phone: 07485 110747
- NEW WorkNest’s Cost of Living Hub, via this link, is available for practical advice and guidance on managing the impact of the current economic crisis.
- NEW Warm Spaces, via this link, is an online directory of Warm Banks – spaces to find warmth, welcome and help.
- NEW Help for Households Campaign, available via this link.
- NEW There’s a useful guidance booklet on setting up a warm space at the CILIP website, via this link.
Emsworth and Westbourne
Click this link for the Emsworth Community Centre.
And from us here at Action Hampshire, if you’d like to be put in touch with any warm hubs in your local area, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please click this link for further Cost of Living support.
