There is a cost-of-living crisis in the UK resulting in unprecedented pressures on people already in poverty, and this winter despite the support given by Government, hundreds of people in Burnley 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.
In doing so, we wish to work with our local partners, building on the great work we did during the pandemic, to create a network of Warm Spaces, a group of places where Burnley people can come together to stay warm, perhaps enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit.
We have created a directory of all the places available to our residents across the public, private, health and voluntary sectors 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.
Sharing Warm Spaces for Burnley
We know that many of our partners across Burnley already provide this type of facility, so if this is you, we’re asking you to consider registering your facilities and/or services with us so we can add you to our Warm Spaces directory to let our residents know how to access the Warm Spaces near them.
If you’ve got a Warm Space already, please tell us about your facilities and services using the form below so we can add to our directory.
It should take you less than two minutes to complete the form.
You can also apply for funding for a project to run at the same time as your Warm Space
ICB Social Prescribing Programme Small Groups Funding is available – you could apply for up to £5,000 to deliver a project at the same time as offering space for people to stay warm. For example, you could offer arts and crafts sessions, listening/befriending sessions, support groups to target a particular issue, lunch clubs, the list goes on! Contact heather.starkie@bprcvs.co.uk for guidance and an application form.
Eric Wright Charitable Foundation Small Groups Funding is also available – you could apply for a small amount of funding – up to £500 – for a project that brings people together. Contact heather.starkie@bprcvs.co.uk for guidance and an application form.
NB: Funding from these providers cannot be used to pay energy bills alone. Funding applications must be for a project which supports people’s health and wellbeing.
What you can expect if you offer a Warm Space
If you want to offer a Warm Space you will be asked to sign up to the Warm Spaces charter,
The Charter is intended to help local people who want to use the Warm Spaces to know what to expect when they step across the threshold of a Warm Space building; a guarantee of respect, dignity and warmth.
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.
Warm Spaces Burnley Charter
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, with dignity and respect
Everyone has a right to be warm, so everyone in a Warm Space treats people, and is treated by people, with dignity and respect
Your Warm Space will be a safe space
Your Warm Space will stick to the safeguarding policies that it always uses, and it will stick to food hygiene rules too!
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.