More than thirty venues across the borough have opened their doors once more to help locals struggling with their heating bills keep warm this winter.
Last year’s initiative saw over 1000 people use the spaces to keep warm, have a hot meal or drink, and meet others.
It was brought in during the height of the cost of living crisis, where many households are finding themselves struggling with energy prices and the cost of heating their homes.
Southwark’s network of warm spaces is back for the second year running, with investment boosted by £43k from Southwark Council to support venues across the borough.
All council libraries and children’s centres, plus a range of voluntary and community sector sites, are operating warm spaces. In total, there are thirty-four warm hubs.
South London Mission is one of the hubs in Bermondsey. The grassroots organisation has been doing vital work to support local communities for over 130 years.
Throughout the year, the mission provides food and other essentials through its pantry hampers using donations from local partners.
The mission provides weekly box meal kits to local schools which have everything families need to prepare a healthy meal together.
Winnie Baffoe, Director of Engagement and Influence at South London Mission, said: “The giving of food is not worthy of accolade, but evidence of a broken social system.
“Projects such as our Pantry provide a window into understanding the experience of poverty.
“Poverty takes away choice. The choice of where you can live, whether to heat your home, what food to cook, and even how to cook it. Poverty eats away at childhood. But childhood is not a dress rehearsal for life – it is life itself and must be lived to the fullest. Childhood must be protected.”
“By offering a warm space, we are able to connect and support people through the network of new friends, charity partners, the statutory and private sectors.”
The mission also supports isolated or vulnerable mothers through their Mummies Republic community group.
Single mum, Blanca, 47, was first introduced to the Mummies Republic support group in 2016 when she was pregnant with her daughter.
She told us: “Every month I struggle with my bills, especially as everything in my house is electric. Things are even harder now that I have lost my job where I was working very long hours.
“I don’t know where my daughter and I would be without Winnie and the South London Mission. Winnie is so kind and makes sure we get fresh, good food. I am always very happy with the food they give me.”
Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Communities, Democracy and Finance: “Last year, we had well over 1,000 people access warm spaces across our borough. It’s a sobering number and shows there’s very clearly a need, which is why we’ve brought warm spaces back this winter.
“The cost of living crisis has touched every corner of our community, with people of all ages seeking not just warmth but also a friendly chat and food in our warm spaces.
“We are proud to working once again with our incredible network of community partners, including South London Mission. Together, we are able to support more people who are struggling to get by as the cost of living crisis shows no sign of relenting.”
As well as from the council, funding also came from United St Saviours, Southwark Charities and Rotherhithe Consolidated Charities.
Find a warm space on Southwark Council’s website here.
The full list of warm spaces is below
For older people
- Age UK Lewisham & Southwark
- Time & Talents
- Time & Talents 2
- Southwark Pensioners’ Centre
- Blackfriars Settlement
Link Age Southwark - Southwark Carers
For children and families
- Coin Street Family and Children’s Centre
- 1st Place Children and Parents Centre
- Victory Primary School and Children’s Centre
- Ellen Brown Centre
- Pilgrims’ Way Centre
- Rotherhithe Centre
- South Bermondsey Centre
- Crawford Centre
- Albrighton Centre
- Dulwich Wood Centre
- The Grove Centre
- Rye Oak Centre
- Ivydale Centre
- Ann Bernadt Centre
- Leyton Square Centre
Libraries
- Blue Anchor Library
- Brandon Library
- Camberwell Library
- Canada Water Library
- Dulwich Library
- Grove Vale Library
- John Harvard Library
- Kingswood Library
- Nunhead Library
- Peckham Library
- Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library
- Una Marson Library