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News- Warm Spots & Cost of Living

a drawing of 3 people stood next to eachother

WARM SPOTS  are places in the community that will give people a warm space and warm welcome as the cost-of-living crisis begins to bite. Many will be existing spaces and events, such as libraries, churches, playgroups and local coffee mornings, but some might be entirely new.

We know that many organisations and communities in Penrith are already organising Warm Spot type activity, and we’re encouraging them to register if they will meet these basic criteria:

  • A warm, heated space
  • A warm welcome (at least one volunteer or member of staff present and able to welcome people)
  • A warm drink (which might be free or provided at cost)
  • Open for at least 2 hours a week (as a regular time slot)

If you are hosting a registered Warm Spot in Penrith we can help meet the cost of refreshments. Please contact the Council Office  for more information.

Find Warm Spots in Penrith:

Please use this link below to find the most update to date places in Penrith that are offering a wams spot:

WARMSPOTS PENRITH


Penrith Warm Spots

FREE, WARM, WELCOME  & SAFE 

Screen readers please note that the underlined headings below will open a new webiste of the host of a warm spot.

Penrith Library

Monday to Saturday – usual opening hours

Public library – scheduled activities throughout the week, Access to free public Wi-Fi and public pcs. Phone charging available Friendly, approachable staff Signposting to support services
kay.metcalfe@cumbria.gov.uk or 01768 812 100
 

Penrith Methodist Church

Friday 10:00am to 2:00pm

Tea/coffee, hot chocolate, squash, water, biscuits/snacks – a hot meal can be provided at 12:00pm if required.

Church meeting room, opening specifically for the event.
admin@penrithmethodist.co.uk
 

Penrith Salvation Army

Tuesday/Friday 10:00am to 3:00pm

Wednesday 12.30pm to 3:00pm

Meals are at cost but discretion given if unable to afford.

Alan.Donaldson@salvationarmy.org.uk
penrith@salvationarmy.org.uk

Newton Rigg Ltd, Penrith

You will have the chance to have a warm drink, in a warm space and meet others with an interest in land based skills and knowledge.
katharinejane@nrtraining.co.uk
 

Restore Penrith

Monday to Saturday  10:00am to 4:00pm
We have a community space in our shop that has space set aside.
beth.honey@restorecumbria.co.uk

St Andrews Penrith

Sunday, 1.30pm to 4:00pm

St. Andrews Place, CA11 7XX

01768 863744

Eden Foyer

Monday – Friday 9:00am – 4:00pm

Free refreshment, soups, drinks, IT facilities, browse internet, charge phones, play board games, access our books corner  or simply relax in our warm Café.

Old London Rd, Penrith CA11 8ET

Tel: 07831991076

 

Toolkit to open a Warm Spot

Please use the link below to help your organisation open a Warm Spot@

TOOLKIT


Warm Home Discount Scheme

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has announced the reopening of the Warm Home Discount scheme which will provide a discount of £150 off electricity bills for three million low-income households this winter. Most households will receive the discount automatically.

The government has launched a new online tool, to make it easier for the public to check if they are eligible for the discount. The online tool will guide customers through the eligibility criteria in England and Wales, asking questions about electricity supply, the benefits they receive and characteristics of their property.

All customers will receive a letter between this month (November) and mid-January 2023 confirming their eligibility and the payment will be made automatically through energy suppliers by March 2023.

The government is also writing to customers who may be eligible, advising them to use the tool linked below to check eligibility, as well as to use the helpline for particularly complex cases.

Cost of Living

Cost of Living Community Leaders Guide

Cumbria County Council have identifed that it has been useful to schools, staff in libraries, and all kinds of voluntary and community sector groups to have a toolkit or guide to assit with community issues and they have developed and published a new guide which can be opened using the underlined link below:

Cost of Living Community Leaders Guide

Household leaflet

An electronic copy of the Household Leaflet, that should be dropping through letterboxes across Cumbria can beopened using the underlined link below:

Cost of Living household leaflet

Infant Formula – Emergency Supplies

Infant formula milk is a big cost for families with babies under a year old, and people will clearly be struggling with this as the cost of living rises. The public health team have set up a system to provide short term, emergency supplies where families have less than 48 hours supply of formula milk and aren’t in a position to buy more.

This will be provided via people who are trained in infant feeding – Midwives, Health Visitors, and the Children and Families Support Service (children’s centres)

There’s a public leaflet attached with lots of information on how to safely formula feed you baby (there’s a risk that people will feel they need to reduce the amount of formula they use, or consider making formula up with cold water – it needs to be made with boiled water (and then allowed to cool) to kill off any bacteria that may be in the powder), how to keep your baby warm and safe, and how to access emergency formula if necessary.

If you are unable to afford to formula feed your baby please contact the services below who will help you access an emergency provision of formula.
Ways to access food

You may be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme if you are receipt of certain benefits. It takes 3-5 days to receive your card after applying and can be used towards the cost of formula, fruit & vegetables: www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Food banks will supply of food for families that have been referred or given a voucher by their GP, Midwife, Health Visitor, School, Nursery or children & families Support Service.

Cumbria County Council Support Helpline on 0800 783 1966

(Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 4.30pm).

Cumbria County Council Cumbria Winter advice for families with babies:

Barnardos, Eden – 01768 899901


Money Navigator Tool – reminder

Anyone in financial difficulty can access money and debt guidance for free. Money Helper UK provides guidance based upon individual circumstances and help find support in their area.


Organisations offering WARM SPOTS should register using this link:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/warmspots


NATIONAL MAP OF WARM SPACES:

https://warmspaces.org/spaces

USEFUL WEBSITE LINKS TO HELP WITH THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS

Help to save energy:

https://cafs.org.uk/cold-to-cosy-homes-cumbria/

 Free School meals and help with uniform:

https://cumbria.gov.uk/childrensservices/schoolsandlearning/freeschoolmeals.asp

 Healthy Start Scheme:
https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

Help with household bills:

https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/help-with-your-bills/

Financial Help

https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/costofliving/financialsupport.asp

Help with childcare costs:

https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/

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