Network of warm spaces offering support to residents this winter
Safe, secure and warm places where people can spend time this winter while saving on their own heating costs are being made available across the borough thanks to extra support from Hackney Council.
Grants totalling £40,000 have been provided to 14 projects, led by local voluntary and community organisations, to support the provision of warm spaces which are open to everyone throughout Hackney until the end of March.
With huge strains being put on household budgets with the rising costs of electricity and heating, the warm spaces provide places people can go and meet others and enjoy a range of free activities while saving money on their own bills.
Funded through the Council’s Housing Services Resident Participation Team, the warm spaces are open to anyone and help supplement the council-run spaces in libraries and in Britannia leisure centre.
The Council will also work with the projects it has funded to see if people could benefit from other services like Hackney Money Hub also being available at the warm spaces to provide additional support.
Among the warm spaces funded by the council are:
- Hackney Quest, Frampton Park Baptist Church, Frampton Park Road - Monday 1.30pm-4pm;
- Skyway, Blue Hut Youth and Community Hub, 49 Provost Street - Tuesday-Thursday 10.30am to 2pm;
- Chats Palace, 42-44 Brooksby's Walk - Tuesday 10am – 2pm and Friday 12 noon – 5pm
- Volunteer Centre Hackney, Stamford Hill Community Centre, Stamford Hill - Friday 9.30am-5.30pm
Residents can find out more about the warm spaces available and which ones are closest to them at bit.ly/HackneyCOL
With our residents facing continually increasing costs we are doing all we can to support them through this cost of living crisis.
With temperatures set to drop again this week, people are going to be faced with the stark choice of turning their heating on or sitting in a cold home because they can't afford to cover their fuel bills.
Thanks to our partnership work with a range of organisations, we are providing a network of safe and warm spaces where people can meet other local residents, have a hot drink and at some of them have something to eat without the worry of paying their own heating or electricity bills.
It’s deeply regrettable that these spaces are needed in 2023 Britain. However I am sure these warm spaces which we are supporting alongside the £5 million package of support for our residents this winter which we announced last year, will be invaluable to many of our residents.
It is vital that we provide as much support as we possibly can to our residents during what is a deeply challenging and worrying time.
These safe, secure and warm places will not just help ease the pressure on people’s bills, but where they can also get help and advice on a range of issues like money and debt.
During these tough times I want to reassure our residents that working with our partners and the community we are doing all we can to provide them with as much support as possible.
Residents can also pick up a warm coat at one of Hackney’s Kind Coat Libraries in Stoke Newington, Homerton, Shoreditch, Stamford Hill, Dalston CLR James, Hackney Central and Clapton. For more information see www.lovehackney.uk/libraries-warm-welcome
A second edition of Hackney Council's comprehensive guide to the support available to residents during the cost of living crisis will be available shortly in libraries and other community venues. More information on the help available can be seen at bit.ly/HackneyCOL