Preston and its surrounding areas are home to various warm spaces this winter as part of an initiative by Lancashire County Council.
The authority has developed a network of warm and safe spaces to support the public throughout the cold season.
The aim of these spaces is so that people can have a safe space where they can keep warm and socialise with others in the community.
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The initiative has been rolled out in response to increasing evidence that demonstrates health risks associated by exposure to cold weather. This has been compounded by the cost-of-living crisis which has, in particular, impacted on people’s ability to heat their home.
The scheme began at the council’s libraries, however the scheme extended to help community organisations set up their own warm spaces.
Community and faith organisations can apply for a grant up to £750 to set up or help support warm spaces across Lancashire.
The grant scheme has been running for four years and has helped organisations set up various spaces to help people throughout Lancashire.
Lancashire County Council Library Warm Spaces in Preston are:
- Bamber Bridge Library
- Fulwood Garstang Road Library
- Leyland Library
- Lostock Hall Library
- Penwortham Kingsfold Library
- Preston Harris Library
- Preston Ribbleton Library
- Ingol Library
- Longton Library
- Euxton Library
Other organisational Warm spaces are:
- All Saint Church New Longton
- Blue Flamingo Community Hub St Michaels and all Angels Church, Egerton Road, Preston
- Central Lancashire Slings CIC Leylines Tattoo Studio
- Chorley Youth Zone
- Community Roots- LSCFT Preston North End
- Community Futures- Fulwood Senior Citizens Centre
- Disability Northwest Community Hub
- Farringdon Park Community Centre
- Fulwood Methodist Church
- Key Unlocking Futures Limited Leyland
- Leyland Baptist Church
- Mill Bank Wellbeing Centre
- Preston Community Hub
- Quwwat Education Centre
- Regenerage- 1 Lourdes Avenue Lockstock Hall
- Revelation Community Church Leyland
- St Bernards Larches and Savick Community Hub
- Tanterton Christian Fellowship Centre
Cllr Daniel Matchett, Lancashire County Council’s Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “The Warm Spaces scheme is a really great initiative, offering members of the public the chance to try out new hobbies and activities and make new friends.
“I recently visited Burnley Library myself to mark the scheme starting up and saw for myself some of the fantastic sessions that are on offer for free for visitors.
“I would like to encourage anyone who is thinking about trying out this fantastic scheme to give it a try.”
You can view a map of the spaces here.
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