With the Met Office forecast of severe cold weather warning from 2nd January – 5th January 2025 across the UK, we urge local organisations including charities, community centres and mosques to open warm space to the vulnerable.
Those suffering homelessness, the elderly and those living below the poverty line or struggling to pay heating bills due to the ongoing Cost-of-Living crisis, will be in need of warm shelter. Almost 5000 excess deaths occurred in 2024 due to extreme cold (End Fuel Poverty Coalition).
Warm Spaces can be free-to-use and offer heated areas with warm drinks, food or activities. They may be required to be open in the evening or night-time when temperatures are at their lowest.
To assist local organisations with running costs to offer a Warm Space, we have put together a list of grant funding options that are available on a local scale. Many Local Authorities and Community Foundations offer Warm Space funding each year but these can often close to applications in November or December.
The following grant funding is open now for applications:
Cumbria: Cumbria Community Foundation – Connecting People Who Care With Causes That Matter
Derbyshire: Warm and welcoming spaces grant fund now open for applications – Derbyshire County Council
Durham: Durham Community Action
Hertfordshire: HCC Community Spaces Fund
Lincolnshire: Winter Warmth – Lincolnshire Community Foundation
Lancashire: Lancashire warm spaces grant scheme – Lancashire County Council
Northamptonshire: Northamptonshire Community Foundation – Warm this Winter Fund
South Gloucestershire: Community welcome spaces grant | BETA – South Gloucestershire Council
Staffordshire and Shropshire: Warm Spaces – Stafford – Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire
Teweksbury: Warm Spaces – Tewkesbury Borough Council
London:
Barking and Dagenham: Warm Spaces Grant | One Borough Voice
Ealing: Warm and welcome spaces | Warm and welcome spaces | Ealing Council
Wandsworth: VCS Warm Spaces and Food Grant Fund guidance notes
You can also find out more information from your Local Authority or via the UK Community Foundation Network by searching for your local Community Foundation.
In addition, organisations that support people who are experiencing poverty can sign-post service users to the British Gas Energy Trust fund. The fund provides support for people who are struggling to pay energy bills. Applicants do not need to be a British Gas customer.
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