A network of Warm Rooms has opened across East Suffolk to provide a safe, welcoming space for anyone struggling with heating costs during the winter months.
From community halls and churches to leisure centres and pubs, the network of 30 Warm Rooms in the district is each providing a warm space, hot drinks and an opportunity to connect with others in the community.
They have been part-funded by the Government, with more than £70,000 set aside from East Suffolk Council’s wider Ease the Squeeze programme of advice and support around the rising cost of living.
A number of additional rooms are also being funded from Community Partnership (CP) budgets, with grants provided to cover heating, lighting and basic refreshments for a minimum of three warm rooms in each CP area.
Several venues are also planning free, independently funded activities, ranging from books and games to film showings.
With refreshments donated by Balfour Beatty, St Andrews Community Church was among 10 Warm Rooms in Lowestoft that were visited by representatives of East Suffolk Community Partnerships on Wednesday, November 30.
Waterlane Leisure Centre in Lowestoft and Waveney Valley Leisure Centre in Bungay, run by award-winning operator Everyone Active in partnership with East Suffolk Council, are offering Warm Rooms in the reception areas of both centres until March during usual opening hours.
Open to everyone, free of charge, Stuart Jardine, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: "We know this winter could be difficult for many people, so we want everyone to know they have a safe and warm place to visit.
“We have a community feel at our leisure centres and we want to invite people to come down and make the most of the space."
Letitia Smith, East Suffolk Council cabinet member for communities, leisure and tourism, said: "We are acutely aware of the financial pressures currently faced by individuals and families in our communities, so I’m pleased that we are able to launch this network of welcoming spaces and help alleviate some of that burden.
"Our officers have been working hard towards a target of providing at least one small and two large Warm Rooms in each Community Partnership area, operating at least twice a week for 22 weeks.
"We are very grateful for the show of support we’ve received so far – and it means we’re able to provide 6,366 hours of warmth over winter."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here