With temperatures set to remain low in the coming weeks, Milton Keynes City Council is reminding local people that free warm spaces are still available in community centres and meeting places around the city thanks to a great response from parish and town councils to the City Council’s warm space funding.
Milton Keynes City Council has shared £180,000 in funding with parish and town councils to set up warm spaces in venues that anyone can visit for free if they’re struggling to heat their homes.
Many of the parish and town councils have also chosen to provide free food and refreshments in the warm spaces as well as activities from board games and puzzles to children’s crafts and free Wifi.
There are as many as 116 warm space sessions on offer each week in Milton Keynes plus one-off activities, and more than 1,200 sessions have been held so far.
In October, the City Council declared a ‘cost-of-living’ emergency’ and set up a Winter Plan with funding for local initiatives that provide food and domestic essentials along with projects that can offset or reduce energy bills, including the £180,000 to set up warm spaces around Milton Keynes.
“We’ve been heartened by the really quick response from parish and town councils to set up not just warm spaces and free refreshments, but also community events for people who might be feeling a bit lonely or facilities for people who need more than just a place to keep warm. Funding is being put to good use. Times are tough but there’s a real sense of communities supporting each other.”
A list of warm spaces by area can be found at www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/warm-spaces although the City Council advises anyone thinking of attending to check with organisers whether a session is still being held before they travel.
Details about the full range of support and benefits available to people who are struggling with the cost of living can be found at www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/cost-living-support