| Dear Barbara
A ‘Warm Hub’ is a warm and safe place where local people can expect a friendly and inclusive welcome. People can come along on their own, or with a friend, and talk to others over a hot drink or maybe a hot meal. They can get practical tips and advice on saving energy costs and keeping safe and warm at home. They will also be helped to access specialist advice and support on things such as cost-of-living grants or debt advice. Warm Hubs can run from publicly accessible community buildings, such as community centres, village halls, churches and their halls, older peoples’ day centres, youth centres and community libraries.
Cambridgeshire ACRE wishes to work alongside parish councils, village hall committees, church communities, local charities and other community groups to establish a network of Warm Hubs with the target of opening the doors of the first ones in October as the weather starts to get colder.
We expect Warm Hubs to reflect the needs of each community; so some might evolve out of groups that already meet, for example, you may already be holding a community café or coffee morning or breakfast club; some might be arranged around other activities such as a play group or older people’s / friendship club and others might be completely new in their set-up as a Warm Hub.
Each Warm Hub will be provided with set-up support including an assessment of the building to check for its energy efficiency and warmth; promotional materials for your community to identify the Warm Hub and its value; a volunteer training programme delivered individually to each Hub to ensure it is effectively established and reflects community needs; and grant funding to allow for building rental, heating and any additional specialist equipment that might be needed to make your Warm Hub successful. Warm Hubs that go through this process with us will be affiliated to a network across South and East Cambridgeshire.
Cambridgeshire ACRE will also establish an associated ‘Warm Hubs Advice and Support Programme’ providing connection to support services provided by local authorities, health services and charities that can help support your Hub. |
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| Our ask and our offer…
We ask you to consider the needs of your own community this wintertime and if you feel a Warm Hub might be an option, we invite you to complete this short expression of interest form. This will allow our Warm Hub Co-ordinator to get in touch with you to discuss the needs in your community and the possibility of starting a Warm Hub this wintertime.
We would also like to invite you to join us for an online event where we will present more details on how Warm Hubs can become established; the support you will receive by being part of this affiliated programme; and answer any questions you might have at this stage. Please register to attend here. |
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| The Warm Hubs in Winter project is being delivered in partnership by Cambridgeshire ACRE, the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System’s South Place Partnership, South Cambridgeshire District Council and East Cambridgeshire District Council.
With best wishes Kirsten Bennett Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire ACRE |