Lambeth’s warm spaces provide “lifeline” for residents struggling to heat their homes

Residents are turning towards warm community spaces as a “lifeline” as the temperature plunges below zero across the Lambeth borough. In partnership with many organisations in the voluntary sector, Lambeth Council have opened a network of warm spaces that residents can go to stay warm if they cannot afford to heat their homes.

This comes as part of the council’s response to cost of living pressures with energy bills rising sharply since the start of October. Alongside rises in the cost of food and other bills which has left many people across the UK struggling to heat their homes over the winter.

“I use the warm spaces for days that I’m not working in the office as I’m only in two days a week,” says Marina Wilson, a 22-year-old Streatham resident. “It’s nice to sit somewhere warm rather than working with hundreds of layers on.”

The council has now set up almost 30 warm spaces across the borough, with many libraries, community halls, and churches signing up to the initiative. Some warm spaces are also offering hot food, activities, and other services for the community.

Difficulties of balancing the rising cost of living has become a stark reality, with many residents having to choose limited time slots when they need warmth in their homes the most.

“I only have my heating on for two hours a day while I have a shower. I can’t afford any more than that,” says Ms Wilson. “The warm spaces I go to are a real lifeline, they take the pressure off choosing between being freezing cold and eating a decent meal at dinner time.”

Councillor Jim Dickson, the cabinet member for health and social care expressed concerns over the current cost of living crisis and the impact it is having on future generations.

“It’s a big generational change that people coming out of higher education and into their first jobs are finding it difficult to afford the rent, the heating and food, we haven’t really seen that before and it’s a generational change that we need to address quickly,” said Mr Dickson

While the scheme has gained plenty of praise, the actual necessity for these spaces has also come under fire as a reflection of the country’s declining economic state.

“It is a pretty awful indictment of the country we live in at the moment that we have to provide communal warm spaces,” says Councillor Jim Dickson. “It can’t be right that people who have qualifications or are working hard in jobs are unable to see the income they get from those jobs provide for their needs.”