Warm spaces set to open across the city to help residents this winter

17 October 2022

Located in venues ranging from libraries and community centres to  youth projects and a recording studio, the 55 warm spaces will offer a range of support services as well as helping people struggling with their energy bills and the cost of living crisis to keep warm. 

Councillor Linda Williams, Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Vibrant City, said: "We know that many of our residents are really worried about how they're going to to heat their homes and keep warm this winter in the face of spiralling bills.

"That's why we're making sure that there is somewhere in every community where people can go to keep warm. But we're also working to make our warm spaces so much more than that.

"Many of our warm spaces are housed in venues with a long standing community role such as libraries, churches and community centres. This is very much about creating and building up hubs to support residents within communities - not just warm spaces, but places to learn new skills, reduce isolation and loneliness and improve health and wellbeing.

"They'll be places where our residents can go for support and advice and most importantly to meet others,  so some will have mother and toddler play groups, exercise groups and adult education groups, such as photography, craft and art classes."

"We have a long history of working closely with our voluntary and community partners to support our communities through difficult times and it's really important that our residents know that there are friendly welcoming spaces where they can go to keep warm this winter."

Details of the warm spaces can be found at: www.sunderland.gov.uk/warm-spaces

For more information on where to go for help and support with the cost of living crisis, including Household Support Fund 3, visit: www.sunderland.gov.uk/get-support