Warm spaces to provide residents with a helping hand this winter

Councillor Neil Emmott with councillor colleagues, Middleton residents and Bowlee Pavilion volunteers at the launch of the warm spaces scheme

The council has launched a warm spaces initiative to provide residents with a helping hand for their cost of living this winter.

Venues in the borough, including libraries and community buildings, are providing spaces for people to keep warm – free of charge.

Each warm space will provide the following free minimum services:-

• Hot and cold drinks
• Water
• Activities
• Health and wellbeing advice
• Signposting to services

The scheme was officially launched by council leader Neil Emmott at Middleton’s Bowlee Pavilion, one of 20 venues that will be offering a warm space for residents. More warm spaces will be made available in the borough over the coming weeks.

Councillor Emmott said: “The cost of living crisis is hitting thousands of our residents really hard which is why our warm spaces initiative, part of our Helping Hand campaign, is such a vital support network we have put in place.

“My message to people is please do not sit at home in the cold, come along to one of the buildings that have signed up and you will be offered a warm space, a warm welcome and a helping hand to offset your cost of living. We have warm spaces across our township areas of Rochdale, Middleton, Heywood and the Pennines.”

He added: “This scheme is showing our partnership working at its very best with organisations across the borough, including the council, voluntary sector and health partnership, playing their part to provide residents struggling to pay their heating bills with a warm, friendly space to access free of charge.

“It’s another part of our wide-ranging local support package, providing people with a helping hand through supermarket vouchers, help to play their energy bills, health and wellbeing advice and much more.”

Details of the borough’s warm spaces, how residents can access facilities, including the times and days of the week warm spaces are open, are at www.rochdale.gov.uk/warmspaces