A Safe, Warm, Well-come
Creating Warm Spaces for people in Mid & East Antrim.
This winter, many people in Mid and East Antrim may have to make tough decisions about when they can afford to heat their home.
Within our Borough, we have strong and proud communities, with a tradition of helping each other as well as supporting themselves.
Why we need Warm Spaces Sharing Warm Spaces
Becoming a Warm Space Warm Space small grant
Safe Warm Well-Come Centres Directory of Resources & Assistance
We want to do more to help our communities and residents, delivering upon our vision to ensure that we:
- Put people and families first
- Tackle inequality so people have a fair chance
- Build capacity within our communities to improve resilience and to support themselves and each other
- Work together to address the issues that organisations working individually cannot achieve alone
In doing so, we wish to work with our local communities, building on the great work we did during the pandemic, to help people reconnect after Covid, whilst at the same time creating a network of Warm Spaces - places where our residents can come together to stay warm, perhaps enjoy a cup of tea and some companionship, and be supported.
Why we need Warm Spaces
By January 2023 it is estimated that over half of households in the UK (15 million) will be in fuel poverty – spending over 10 per cent of net income on fuel. In Northern Ireland, this figure could be over 70%.
This means over 1.4 million people here will be struggling to afford their energy bills.
The crippling cost of living is pushing people in Northern Ireland into making increasingly desperate decisions week-to-week.
We are all hearing heartbreaking stories of people skipping meals, turning off their heating, sitting in the dark with no electricity and making their own sanitary products because they simply can’t afford to get by any other way.
Although the proposals for central government assistance are still evolving, the reality is that for most families any direct support they receive to go towards their energy costs may not be enough to make a difference.
Sharing Warm Spaces with Mid & East Antrim residents
We know that many of our partners across Mid and East Antrim already provide this type of facility or have somewhere that might be suitable to act as a Warm Space.
We would ask you to consider sharing your facilities and services as part of this initiative.
Do you have a Warm Space already or are you interested in creating one?
We can provide you with assistance to create or enhance a Warm Space.
We will provide you with a Warm Space Charter (see below) and we can send you guidance in the form of a toolkit to explain how to prepare to operate as a Warm Space as well as useful information to support both your organisation/group and local residents.
Becoming a Warm Space
If you want to offer a Warm Space download, or read online, the Warm Space Charter and the Warm Space Toolkit.
The Charter will let people know what to expect when they step across the threshold of a Warm Space building; a guarantee of respect, dignity and warmth.
The Warm Space Toolkit includes information on:
- Understanding the Warm Space Charter
- Things to consider in preparing your venue to receive visitors
- Ideas for activities, amenities and facilities
- How to provide signposting for visitors to access advice, advocacy, and support particularly around energy advice, available grant schemes etc
In addition, you'll receive our Safe Warm Welcome logo so you can create your own materials to promote your Warm Space.
Please note, Warm Space participants will be expected to adhere to their own risk assessments and safeguarding policies and ensure that all staff and volunteers are briefed on these procedures.
Warm Space small grant programme
Small grants (up to £500) can be awarded to organisations in Mid and East Antrim for the creation and improvement of Warm Spaces for local communities, leading to a positive difference for those living in the area.
The fund is titled, Warm Spaces Grant Scheme.
Council funding can be used for a variety of warm space-related activities to benefit the local community, including cooking equipment such as slow cookers to make a hearty soup, or help towards venue hire costs or refreshments.
It can also be used to organise activities that will help bring the most vulnerable residents together and boost their mental and emotional well-being.
For those attending warm space venues, Council will provide information packs with practical advice on keeping safe and warm this winter.
There will also be further help on how to get more specialist advice for particular challenges.
Safe Warm Well-Come Centres
|
Name and Address of Centre |
Operating dates and times |
Brief Description of Activity |
Contact details for more information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broughshane Community Centre |
Thursdays Term Time 12noon until 2pm |
Luncheon Club (bookable weekly in advance via Community Office) |
T: 028 2586 2777 |
|
Compass Advocacy Network Ltd |
Wednesday 6.30pm – 8.30pm |
Meet up for adults with learning disabilities to have a hot meal in a warm space while socialising with their peers. |
Danielle McKee - Finance Manager CAN T: 028 2752 3053 |
| Linn Road Community Centre 241 Linn Road Larne BT40 2AH |
Every Monday 12noon - 2pm | Our Warm Hub is open to everyone, we offer warm soup, tea/coffee and the opportunity to chat with others in a friendly relaxing atmosphere. |
Deborah Neill T: 028 2827 8199 |
| Maine Business Centre 82 Main St Cullybackey BT42 1BW |
FRI 13 December 2024 10.30am - 12.30pm MON 13 January 2025 10.30am - 12.30pm WED 12 February 2025 10.30am - 12.30pm |
COFFEE MORNINGS WITH ACTIVITIES DEC - CHRISTMAS FUN JAN - SINGALONG AND YARN FEB - NETWORKING AND SUPPORT EVENT |
SAMANTHA T: 028 2588 2281 M: 07548 893 047 |
|
The Old School Café |
Each Friday from 11am to 1pm, starting 6 December 2024 |
Provision of hot food in our café. Feel free to bring your knitting/sewing projects. Activities provided. Access to our library. |
T: 028 2563 1236 |
|
Sheils31Hub |
10am - 12noon Wednesday 15 January 2025 Wednesday 29 January 2025 Wednesday 5 February 2025 |
Demonstration of bottling techniques (Pickling, chutney, jam) Armchair yoga with instructor Talk by the Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RPSB) |
M: 07541 911 169 Booking required! |
| Straid Orange Hall |
6.30pm – 8.30pm Friday 6 December 2024 Friday 13 December 2024 Friday 10 January 2025 Friday 17 January 2025 |
Hot food and games | M: 07766 147 687 |