Warm Spaces

With significant increases in living costs there is unprecedented pressure on people already in poverty, and this winter despite the support given by Government, people in South and East Lincolnshire will be forced to make tough decisions about when and what they eat, what they can do in life, and when they can afford to heat their home.

To support our residents we have worked with our partners to create a network of Warm Spaces, a group of places where local residents can come together to stay warm and perhaps enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit.

We have created a directory of all the places available to our residents so that anyone who is cold knows where they can go to get warm, stay warm and enjoy a little company and some hot refreshments.

Why We Need Warm Spaces?

Despite the recently announcement energy price guarantee from the Government  the average energy bill has increase to around £2500 a year for gas and electricity.

The government's position on support is evolving,  but measures already announced include:-

Residents in council tax band A to D (or band E where there is a disabled reduction) are eligible for a £150 council tax rebate.

All domestic energy customers in Great Britain will receive a £400 grant to help with the cost of their energy bills through the Energy Bill Support Scheme.

All pensioner households will receive an extra £300 to help them cover the rising cost of energy this winter.

People with disabilities will receive an extra £150 to help with the particular extra costs they face.

The Household Support Fund helps households who are not eligible for other kinds of help or need further support. The Government announced a further £500 million of support via the scheme, which will now run until March 2023.

Energy Price Guarantee (a typical UK household will now pay up to an average £2,500 a year on their energy bills for the next two years) .

This means that although people will have an extra money to go towards their energy costs it may not make enough of a difference.

Warm Spaces Charter

All members of the Warm Spaces network across Boston Borough work to these standards.

You'll get a warm welcome as well as Warm Space

Every time you come to a Warm Space you'll be given a warm welcome from the staff and volunteers there.

Everyone is treated equally

Everyone has the right to be warm. Everyone in a Warm Space will be treated with dignity and respect.

Your Warm space will be a safe space

The groups own safeguarding policies will always be followed. Where refreshments are offered, food hygiene rules are followed too. Each venue will follow the latest public health guidance around Covid-19, flu and other illnesses. Venues will follow their own age restrictions as appropriate and clearly display them on Locate and within the venue.

We'll not tell anyone about you needing a Warm Space

If you want to share the reasons you need a Warm Space, someone will listen, but they won't tell anyone else unless you give them permission, or they must because of their safeguarding policies.

It doesn't matter why you need a Warm Space

Every Warm Space is a non-judgemental space; whatever the reason you have for needing to come in, you'll be treated the same and never judged.

Warm Space participants will be expected to adhere to their own safeguarding policies and ensure that all staff and volunteers are briefed on these procedures.

Sharing Warm Spaces for Boston Borough Council

If you've got a Warm Space already, please tell us about your facilities and services by emailing the Empowering Healthy Communities Co-ordinator

There is also a national Warm Welcome database where you can find a space or register your space.