Llandaff Diocese Launch Warm Spaces Toolkit to Help More Churches Tackle Cost-of-Living Crisis

The Diocese of Llandaff has created a toolkit to help more churches and community groups set up Warm Spaces in their buildings.

Almost a quarter of people already live in poverty in Wales, and Llandaff covers 6 of the 10 most deprived areas. The South Wales Valleys are areas of particular need, with over half of working age adults out of work and likely to be disproportionately affected by the cost of living and energy price rise this winter.

Through providing warmth, shelter and hospitality, the diocese hopes these hubs will be a pleasant alternative for people who would otherwise need to turn their heating on during the day, helping with the estimated £800 gap between the overall Government support package and the real cost of living for them this winter.

At a minimum, the diocese believes a warm space should be:

• Free from any costs for those attending
• Heated and able to at least provide basic warm refreshments and snacks, with more substantial meals available where possible
• Inclusive and non-judgemental where anyone, regardless of circumstances, receives a warm welcome
• Safe and hygienic, with robust safeguarding policies in place
• Open at least once a week with regular opening times that don't change on a weekly basis

The Rhondda Ministry Area have a strong Warm Spaces initiative and have already set up multiple community spaces and churches as places to keep warm, have food and refreshments, and while away the time with crafts, activities and conversation.

One of these Warm Spaces is in St Thomas’ Church in Clydach Vale in the Rhondda Ministry Area. Vicar of St Thomas’, Fr Philip Leyshon said, “People might say, where is Christ in this crisis? Well, Christ is where he's always been - in his people, serving. There is warmth for the building, there is fellowship in conversations. There is plenty of things for people to do like learn to make candles… just one example of what people can experience and enjoy by coming to these warm places.

“We thought that we should be making Christ's manifest in what we do, as well as in what we say. And of course, this is all about doing; it's coming together to create an environment whereby people can experience God's love practically in their lives.”

The toolkit includes the outline of funding opportunities. The diocese is looking to launch it's own fundraising campaign to support diocesan cost of living projects for this winter and beyond, including warm spaces, through grant funding directly to Ministry Areas. More information will be made available shortly.

Creator of the diocesan toolkit, Senior Outreach and Social Justice Officer for the Diocese of Llandaff, Christoph Auckland, said, “We're always humbled by the passionate desire of our churches and ministry areas across the diocese to respond to the needs of their communities at times of crisis. Our outreach is most successful when we place community at the heart of how we respond to need.”