Warm Spots Update
12th December 2022
Warm Spots update
You may have spotted in the media and through our newsletters that there has been a great push across the county, to set up warm and welcome places (warm spots!) for people to access over the winter months. Much of this has been in response to the cost of living crisis, and the concern that people are struggling to pay their energy bills, but many people are attending them for sociable reasons too – it’s a good way to spend long, cold days and evenings. There are over 200 groups that have registered ‘warm spot’ sessions over the last two months, which goes to show just how much compassion and willingness there is in Cumbria, to support people when they need it most.
The public can look at the countywide webpage to see what’s going on in their area – and it’s also where you can register your own sessions, if you would like to set one up or you’re running already!
The link is here: https://new.cumbria.gov.uk/warm-spots
There is a set of basic criteria that groups providing warm spots need to meet, in order to register their warm spot as an official one; we’re encouraging groups to look at other sessions in their area, to try and spread out provision - so it doesn’t all happen on the same days, giving local people in the area more choices and sessions to attend.
The criteria are pretty easy to fulfil, but if there is anything that we can help with, just let us know. The warm spots toolkit may be of use https://cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/6181/44868172113.pdf it contains lots of information about making your sessions as safe, warm and welcoming as possible.
We’re finding that sessions offering some kind of entertainment or activity are especially working well – in some places it’s jigsaws or newspapers, some areas have films running and others lure people in with food and a brew. We’re also finding that the groups that focus on it being something interesting to do, and sociable, are being better attended than those that advertise themselves as places to go if you’re cold and hungry. We believe this is because it means people can attend without having to share that they’re struggling, as anyone can attend sociable or food sharing events. Volunteers have been benefitting, making new connections with people and staying warm, too! The recent survey of warm spot providers found that social isolation/loneliness was the most common reason for attending.
There is funding for warm spots https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/warm-spots-fund/ (let us know if you’re in rural Copeland as we can offer some additional support). And when you register, you’ll be sent (or can download) a promotion toolkit with logos, social media info etc. to help publicise what you’re doing.
Keep up the brilliant work!