Warm Spaces Toolkit

We are incredibly proud of the churches and ministry areas across the diocese that have already set-up warm spaces to support their communities this winter.

However, many more have expressed an interest in setting up a warm space or want to support an existing one. In tandem with the Archbishop’s Food and Fuel campaign, the diocese is committed to providing the central support, capacity and co-ordination to equip and enable our churches to effectively respond to this profound need at a time of unprecedented peacetime crisis.

On this page

Background

What are warm spaces

Things to consider before starting a warm space

Registering your warm space

Promotion

Supporting an existing warm space

Funding

Prayer

It’s estimated that, across the UK, 16.4 million people will be in fuel poverty this winter, with people with disabilities, elderly people, children, people from ethnic minorities, and low-income households amongst the most affected groups. Significantly, up to 45% of households in Wales are already in fuel poverty, with 8% in extreme fuel poverty – having to spend more than 20% of their income to keep warm.

This is hitting at an already difficult time. 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.

Many of those in our communities will be turning to the church to help plugged the estimated £800 gap between the overall Government support package and the real cost of living for them this winter.

Put simply, warm spaces or warm hubs are spaces available to the public that are warm, and provide a level of care and support to those attending. Many different organisations across Wales are providing different styles of support that meet their communities’ needs. However, 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

Warm spaces should be tailored to the needs of their local community and provide a range of support or enrichment that supports a variety of different people.

Capacity and Costs

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, but the legacy of Covid-19 is that many churches are still recovering from the transformational support they offered. So before committing to setting up a warm space, is important to consider whether you have the volunteer capacity to open at least once a week, and provide refreshments to those you're welcoming.

It's also worth considering the costs of a warm space, both in terms of your energy bills and the warm refreshments provided. Churches can be exceptionally expensive to heat - is there a more suitable room or building nearby, or could you extended some existing activity for which the building is already open and heated?

There is funding available from a number of sources to help off-set these costs, and the diocese might be able to offer some additional capacity support.

Community

Our outreach is most successful when we place community at the heart of how we respond to need. It's important to understand what your community needs, and whether those needs are already being met by other organisations providing warm spaces so as not duplicate effort. If there is already a local warm space, could you join in with what’s already happening, such as through chaplaincy support? You can find lists of existing warm spaces at the Warm Welcome and Warm Spaces websites, or at the local schemes listed below.

Beyond food and warmth

The church is much more then a building, and as we share time with people we also need to consider what the church can offer beyond food and warmth. This could be meeting social needs with games, workshops or activities, through to meeting spiritual needs through wellbeing support with programmes like The Sanctuary Course.

Diocesan Support

If you need support in setting up your warm space, from identifying a space through to set-up and operation, or want to talk about capacity or other ideas, contact the Diocesan Outreach and Social Justice Lead, Christoph Auckland, at christophauckland@churchinwales.org.uk

There are two primary national campaigns for warm spaces – the Warm Welcome Campaign and Warm Spaces. We recommend registering your warm space with both of these organisations so that both local people and agencies can find you.

Warm Welcome Campaign

The Warm Welcome Campaign is a coordinated community response to energy crisis that equips and supports free, warm, and welcoming spaces in communities across the UK. The campaign was started by the ChurchWorks Commission and is supported by a number of charities, including Christian organisations such Transforming Lives for Good, Acts 435, and Renew Wellbeing.

Registered warm spaces receive resources to support the set-up and operation of the Warm Welcome Space, publicity materials and promotion via an online map (and elsewhere as appropriate), and regular updates and opportunities on the overall Warm Welcome campaign. Unfortunately none of these materials are currently available in Welsh.

Register at www.warmwelcome.uk

Warm Spaces

Warm Spaces is another co-ordinated mapping exercise of provision of support, but includes a variety of other support including pay-it-forward schemes, advice and guidance, even places for someone charge their phone whilst staying comfortable and warm.

Register at https://warmspaces.org/

Local Schemes

There are a number of local registration schemes in parts of South Wales which offer co-ordination of warm spaces across local areas. This page will be regularly updated with information on these local schemes.

• Bridgend - www.bridgend.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-support/cost-of-living-support/warm-spaces/
• Neath Port Talbot - www.nptcvs.wales/winter-warm-spaces-registration/
• Rhondda Cynon Taf - www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/GetInvolved/RCTTogether/WinterWelcomeCentreExpressionofInterestInvitation.aspx
• Vale of Glamorgan - www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/living/Cost-of-Living/Warm-Spaces.aspx

In addition to the marketing materials provided by the Warm Welcome Campaign, the Diocese can provide support in promoting your warm space to the local community, and will be co-ordinating it’s own map of support across the diocese to ensure a good spread of support that reduces duplication and ensures at least one warm space is open every day.

Contact the Diocesan Outreach and Social Justice Lead, Christoph Auckland, at christophauckland@churchinwales.org.uk for more information who support in promotion, or to have your warm space added to the diocesan map.

As mentioned above, it's important to not duplicate existing warm hubs, particularly when church buildings can often not be the most efficient to heat. So if there is already a warm space in your immediate area, you can still support your community by joining in with those warm spaces by providing chaplaincy support or additional enrichment activities or workshops. This could be as simple as just being regularly present at a warm space to chat and develop community links, offering time to help run and support the warm space, or even offering deeper spiritual and wellbeing support through projects like The Sanctuary Course or a Renew Wellbeing space.

You can find lists of existing warm spaces that you could support on the Warm Welcome and Warm Spaces websites, or at the local schemes listed above.

There are a number of funding streams available to support the set-up and operation of warm spaces. As the diocese is looking to act as a coordinating centre for warm spaces within the diocese, helping to alleviate burdens on Ministry Area teams, potentially offering economies of scale, and opening access to larger funds, we’re here to provide support to those who require funding and support. Contact the Diocesan Outreach and Social Justice Lead, Christoph Auckland, at christophauckland@churchinwales.org.uk

Welsh Government

The Welsh Government has announced a £1m scheme to support warm spaces this winter. This funding will be distributed via local authorities and in line with local authority agreed existing formula. As part of the funding local authorities will be required to engage with their local partners, including County Voluntary Councils (CVC’s), in the development of warm spaces and in the provision and distribution of funding at a local community level to local community groups wishing to establish a warm space.

As details emerge of funding information will be made available here – keep in touch with Christoph if you have any questions or queries.

• Cardiff

Cardiff Thirds Sector Council - https://c3sc.org.uk/warm-welcome-spaces-fund/

• Neath Port Talbot

Neath Port Talbot CVS - www.nptcvs.wales/winter-warm-spaces-registration/

• Vale of Glamorgan

Glamorgan Voluntary Services - www.gvs.wales/news/vale-of-glamorgan-councils-warm-spaces-scheme

ASDA Foundation

The Asda Foundation is providing individual grants worth up to a maximum of £2,000 to support charities and community groups to stay open and operate warm spaces this winter. It is aimed at local groups to support increasing running costs – whether that’s rent, energy bills, or food and support costs – so that these groups can continue to support their local communities.

Funding guidance can be found online at www.asdafoundation.org/how-to-apply. If projects meet the criteria then they’ll need to make initial contact with their local Asda Community Champion about applying.

Diocesan Funding

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.

Almighty and most merciful God,

We hold before you all for whom life is difficult.

Those who must chose between eating or heating,

those who fear starvation or eviction,

those who go without so their children do not.

Open our eyes to their struggle,

open our ears to their needs,

and open our hearts to respond.

May we never forget that what we do to the least in the world,

we do to you.

Unite us all in your work of mercy and service,

mobilise us to help all of those struggling in our communities,

and empower us to fight for justice against poverty and oppression.

Grant these things, Father, for the love of your Son Jesus Christ,

who dwelt alongside us in the difficulty and mess of our human lives.

Amen