Warm spaces open to support West Suffolk residents this winter

Warm spaces open to support West Suffolk residents this winter

21 Nov 2024

Nearly 40 warm spaces including libraries, community centres and village halls are putting on activities to support residents of all ages across West Suffolk this winter.

And residents can find warm spaces in their area, the activities taking place, and other support through West Suffolk Council's dedicated cost-of-living webpages.

The council learned in early October that it would receive winter related support from the county funds.

West Suffolk is using that money to support warm spaces and contacted all that it has supported in previous years to see if they were operating this winter and needed funding support.

Across West Suffolk 39 warm spaces are operating this winter including 26 which are being supported by West Suffolk Council with a grant of £1400 each. All 39 are now listed at on the Council's cost-of-living Warm Spaces webpage. And the list will be updated as other warm spaces contact [email protected] to be added to the list.

Cllr Donna Higgins, Cabinet Member for Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council said: "We know that high energy prices are impacting people and families of all ages across West Suffolk. Warm spaces provide somewhere local to residents where they can come along, socialise and take part in a range of fun community activities. It can help people who are at home during the day reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness and reduce their daytime heating costs as well."

Warm spaces are just one of the ways West Suffolk Council is working with partners and community groups to support residents of all ages during the continuing cost-of-living crisis.

The council recently announced details of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme which supports pupils who receive benefits related free school meal with a host of free activities. It is designed to support children who may otherwise not get a hot meal during the school holidays, but the council is also making spaces available to other families in financial hardship. More details can be found on our holiday activities webpage.

West Suffolk is also encouraging pensioners who aren't in receipt of pension credit to check their eligibility - those who are eligible will receive the winter fuel allowance. See our cost-of-living webpage.

The webpages also contain other advice including:
• Support for families
• Help for finance and debt
• Help with access to food
• Help with fuel, energy and utilities
• Help with housing and keeping your home warm
• Health and wellbeing support
• Community grants