A Safe, Warm, Well-come
Creating Warm Spaces for people in Mid & East Antrim
There is a cost-of-living crisis across the UK resulting in unprecedented pressures on people already in poverty.
This winter, despite the support given by Government, many people in Mid and East Antrim will have to make tough decisions about when they can afford to heat their home.
Within our Borough, we have strong and proud communities, with a tradition of helping each other as well as supporting themselves.
Safe, Warm, Well-Come Centres Why we need Warm Spaces Sharing Warm Spaces Becoming a Warm Space
Warm Space small grant Directory of Resources & Assistance
We want to do more to help our communities and residents, delivering upon our vision to ensure that we:
- Put people and families first
- Tackle inequality so people have a fair chance
- Build capacity within our communities to improve resilience and to support themselves and each other
- Work together to address the issues that organisations working individually cannot achieve alone
In doing so, we wish to work with our local communities, building on the great work we did during the pandemic, to help people reconnect after Covid, whilst at the same time creating a network of Warm Spaces - places where our residents can come together to stay warm, perhaps enjoy a cup of tea and some companionship, and be supported.
Why we need Warm Spaces
By January 2023 it is estimated that over half of households in the UK (15 million) will be in fuel poverty – spending over 10 per cent of net income on fuel. In Northern Ireland, this figure could be over 70%. This means over 1.4 million people here will be struggling to afford their energy bills.
The crippling cost of living is pushing people in Northern Ireland into making increasingly desperate decisions week-to-week. We are all hearing heartbreaking stories of people skipping meals, turning off their heating, sitting in the dark with no electricity and making their own sanitary products because they simply can’t afford to get by any other way.
Although the proposals for central government assistance are still evolving, the reality is that for most families any direct support they receive to go towards their energy costs may not be enough to make a difference.
Register of Safe, Warm, Well-Come Centres
|
Name and Address of Centre |
Operating dates and times |
Brief Description of Activity |
Contact details for more information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Carnlough Library Town Hall |
Tuesday: Thursday: Saturday: |
Tea and newspapers - Every Thursday from 10am to 1pm Mindful colouring - Every Thursday from 10am to 1pm Rhythm and Rhyme - Every Saturday from 10.30am to 11am Adult Reading Group - Fourth Tuesday of every month from 2pm to 3pm Knit and Natter - Every Tuesday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm |
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Carrickfergus Library 2 Joymount Court
|
Monday: |
Rhythm and Rhyme – Thursday and Friday 11am Tea and Newspapers – Tuesday 10.30am Knit and Natter – Tuesday 10.30am Storytime and Craft – Tuesday 3.30pm Lego Club – Friday 3.30pm |
|
|
Greenisland Football Club |
Mondays 2pm - 4pm fortnightly January – March 2023 |
Visually impaired cuppa club Indoor games and physical activity - suitable sports, such as boccia - socialising and light refreshment |
David Starrs |
|
Harryville Community Centre |
Wednesdays: 7.30pm – 9pm 11 & 25 January 2023 8 & 22 February 2023 8 & 22 March 2023 |
Community Drop in for Fun, Food and Fellowship Board games Arts and crafts Acoustic sets |
Colin Crawford, Harryville residents association E: harryvilleresidentsassociation@gmail.com |
|
Holy Trinity Church Prospect Road, Carrickfergus |
Every Wednesday 10am – 1pm |
Light meals, tea and refreshments, board games, newspapers and companionship. |
Drew Buchanan E: office@holytrinitycarrick.org.uk |
|
Larne Baptist Church Upper Cairncastle Road |
Fridays: 10am – 11.30am - P@tch Parent & Toddler Group 6.30pm – 7.30pm - Quest Children's Club 8pm – 10pm - Café+ |
P@tch Parent and toddlers group Free, warm space for people to connect in the community. Also offer tea, coffee and refreshments for the adults as well as a large, varied snack for the toddlers. Quest Children’s Club Club for all children of primary school age. It is free and includes activities such as lego building, dancing, crafts, designing milkshakes etc Café+ for over 18’s Free warm space with tea, coffee, buns, pool, darts, quizzes, table tennis, board games and crafts |
Simon Curry |
|
Larne Library 36 Pound Street |
Monday: |
Tea and newspapers - Every Tuesday 11am Sewing box - Every Tuesday 11am Rhythm and Rhyme - Every Monday and Friday 11am Knit and Natter - Every Wednesday |
|
|
Larne Community Care Centre (the Point) 1-5 Doric Way, |
Starting Monday 13 March 2023 plus the following dates: 27 March 2023 10 April 2023 24 April 2023 8 May 2023 |
Various activities, with food and refreshments. Information available on other support agencies. |
Laura Rice
|
|
Linn Road Community Centre 241 Linn Road |
Monday 9 January 2023 – 27 March 2023 12noon - 2pm |
Various activities, speakers, tea/coffee soup Information available on other support agencies |
E: Deborah@larnecdp.org.uk |
|
Ballymena Central Library 5 Pat's Brae |
Monday: |
Tea and Newspapers - daily from 10am to 3pm Rhythm and Rhyme - every Wednesday and Friday 10.30am to 11am. Also every Friday from 11.30am to 12pm Knit and Natter - every Tuesday from 10.30am to 11.30am
|
E: ballymena.library@librariesni.org.uk
|
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Ballee Community Centre 3 Ballee Neighbourhood Centre, |
Thursdays: January 12 to March 2 12noon - 2pm |
Hot meals are provided fortnightly starting January 12 2023 with tea, coffee and biscuits provided every week. Jigsaws, board games and crafting materials are available to use for anyone who wishes to give a new skill a go or relax with an old one. |
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Broughshane library
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Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: |
Tea and Newspapers - 10.30am – 1pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Knit and Natter - 6.30pm - 8pm every Tuesday Mindful Colouring - Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during opening hours Board games - Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during opening hours SAD Lamp - available Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during opening hours |
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Broughshane Community Centre 21 Knockan Road |
Every Thursday 11am – 3pm commencing end January 2023 |
Tea, coffee, board games, newspapers, group activities and companionship. Lunch available at a small cost. |
Valerie Blake T: 028 2586 2777 |
|
Portglenone Library |
Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Saturday: |
Tea and newspapers - during opening hours (excluding Tuesday evenings 5.30pm - 8pm) Rhythm and Rhyme - Wednesday 10.30am - 11am Knit & Natter - Wednesday 11.30am -12.30pm Cryptic Corner/ Mindful Colouring In - Thursday 11am – 1pm |
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|
Kells and Connor |
Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: |
Rhythm and Rhyme - Tuesday 10.45am - 11.30am weekly Children’s Board Game Club - Tuesday 2pm - 3pm weekly Tea and Newspapers - Tuesday 2pm - 5pm weekly Knit and Natter - Tuesday 6pm - 7.30pm weekly Children’s Board Game Club - Thursday 2pm - 3pm weekly Check ‘em’ Out Adult reading Group - Thursday 10.30am - 11.30am monthly ***Commencing Thursday 12 January 2023: Mindful Colouring - Thursday 10.30am - 1pm weekly Cryptic Corner - Thursday 10.30am - 1pm weekly Lego Club - Saturday 2pm - 3pm, 1st and 3rd Saturday each month |
E: kellsandconnor.library@librariesni.org.uk
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Kells Luncheon Club Kells Presbyterian Church Hall
|
Thursday mornings 11.45am - 1.30pm Starting 12 January until the 23rd February |
Offering a hot meal, a chat and a chance to make friends |
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|
Whitehead |
Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Saturday: Sunday:
|
Lego Club - Every Tuesday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. For children aged 6 - 10 years Tea and Newspapers - Every Wednesday from 10.30am to 12noon Knit and Natter - Every Wednesday from 10.30am to 12noon Rhythm and Rhyme - Every Wednesday 11am to 11.30am Scrabble Club - Every Wednesday 2pm to 3pm |
E: whitehead.library@librariesni.org.uk
|
|
The Blue Box |
Wednesdays, 10am - 3pm:
|
One pot cookery demonstration |
Jan - M: 07379 787 971 George - M: 07879 767 878 |
|
Home Start East Antrim Oakfield community Centre |
Starts Thursday 12 January 2023 and runs every Thursday for 6 weeks from 10am – 12noon. |
Mindful carers group, for parents or carers with a child under 5, who are caring for a child or adult with a disability or health need. Group sessions facilitated by Action Mental Health and focusing on well being and resilience for carers, with additional info on cost of living topics. Breakfast and bottomless tea/coffee provided. Participants must register in advance |
Kelly Taylor Home start East Antrim E: kelly.taylor@homestarteastantrim.org.uk T: 028 9332 8875 |
|
Good Morning Ballymena 161 Larne Road |
Monday – Friday 9.30am - 12noon Jan 2023 - Feb 2023 |
Space to gather, read papers, books and chat. Free Tea / coffee / toast provided |
Debbie Chestnutt T: 028 2564 0720 |
|
Glenravel & District Community & Residents Association |
Wednesday 18 and Friday 20 January 2023 | Tea Coffee scones Biscuits and Soup and Sandwitches with a game of Bingo |
Marian |
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All Saints Parish & Community Centre 9 Cushendall RoadBallymena BT43 6HA |
10am to 12noon Mondays & Wednesdays in January 2023, starting Wednesday 4 January 2023. |
Tea, coffee and scones in The Old School Café situated in All Saints Parish & Community Centre |
Claire Law |
|
Whitehead Community Centre 19 Kings Road |
Mondays 2pm - 4pm Tuesdays 10.30am - 12.30pm and Thursdays 2pm - 4pm |
Tea, coffee, cake on offer as well as jigsaws and board games. |
Rosemary / Marianne |
Sharing Warm Spaces with Mid & East Antrim residents
We know that many of our partners across Mid and East Antrim already provide this type of facility or have somewhere that might be suitable to act as a Warm Space. We would ask you to consider sharing your facilities and services as part of this initiative.
Do you have a Warm Space already or are you interested in creating one? We can provide you with assistance to create or enhance a Warm Space.
We will provide you with a Warm Space Charter (see below) and we can send you guidance in the form of a toolkit to explain how to prepare to operate as a Warm Space as well as useful information to support both your organisation/group and local residents.
Becoming a Warm Space
If you want to offer a Warm Space download a copy of the Warm Space Charter and the Warm Space Toolkit. The Charter will let people know what to expect when they step across the threshold of a Warm Space building; a guarantee of respect, dignity and warmth.
The Warm Space Toolkit includes information on:
- Understanding the Warm Space Charter
- Things to consider in preparing your venue to receive visitors
- Ideas for activities, amenities and facilities
- How to provide signposting for visitors to access advice, advocacy, and support particularly around energy advice, available grant schemes etc
In addition, you'll receive our Safe Warm Welcome logo so you can create your own materials to promote your Warm Space.
Please note, Warm Space participants will be expected to adhere to their own risk assessments and safeguarding policies and ensure that all staff and volunteers are briefed on these procedures.
Warm Space small grant programme
Small grants (up to £500) can be awarded to organisations in Mid and East Antrim for the creation and improvement of Warm Spaces for local communities, leading to a positive difference for those living in the area. The fund is titled, "Covid-19 Community Recovery Warm Spaces Grant Scheme - Call 3".
Council funding can be used for a variety of warm space-related activities to benefit the local community, including cooking equipment such as slow cookers to make a hearty soup, or help towards venue hire costs or refreshments. It can also be used to organise activities that will help bring the most vulnerable residents together and boost their mental and emotional well-being.
For those attending warm space venues, Council will provide information packs with practical advice on keeping safe and warm this winter. There will also be further help on how to get more specialist advice for particular challenges.