East Suffolk Council

Posted by on 3 November 2022 | Comments

To support residents struggling with the rising cost of living, a network of ‘Warm Rooms’ has been organised in Beccles.

Launched in August 2021, the Beccles Community Hub and Volunteer Centre is a place for local people to bring and receive donated items, participate in activities, and learn more about local services and support.

In recent months, the Community Hub has been supporting the local community with the rising cost of living. As part of this, they have coordinated a network of spaces in Beccles, known as ‘Warm Rooms’, for use over the autumn and winter where people can go during the day to save the cost of heating their homes. All venues offer hot drinks, and some are also offering lunchtime meals.

In addition to the Warm Rooms, the Community Hub is involved with the Comfort Food scheme where local households in need can access a free hot meal. The Hub is also supporting local volunteers to knit gloves, scarves and blankets so that local residents can keep warm.

Working with partners in the voluntary sector, East Suffolk Council is creating and funding a network of warm spaces in venues across the district, including local community buildings, where people can gather and stay warm during the colder months. The Council’s overall Ease the Squeeze programme is worth more than half a million pounds and more than £70,000 of this will be invested in Warm Rooms this year.

Caroline Topping, Chair of the Community Hub and East Suffolk ward councillor for Beccles, Worlingham, Barnby and North Cove said: “Beccles Community Hub is an amazing space. It is always busy, friendly and buzzing. The volunteers have been absolutely brilliant and I would like to thank them all. I would also like to thank all of the people who bring their items to us for giving to a new home. This is making a huge difference to people’s lives and extending the lifespan of products that might have been thrown away so also good for the environment. I would also like to thank Beccles Mayor for making us his Mayoral Appeal for this year.”

To support their work, the Community Hub was awarded £2,000 in September 2021 by the Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and villages Community Partnership.

Cllr Judy Cloke, Chair of the Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and villages Community Partnership said: “We know that recent rises in energy prices and the overall cost of living is causing concern for residents, especially as the colder months approach. Originally launched in Bungay earlier this year, Warm Rooms enable people of all ages to reduce their heating bills by getting out during the day, have a hot drink or even a meal and also meet with other people, which is essential for reducing loneliness and improving their physical and mental health.”

The Beccles Warm Rooms are available as follows:

• Monday
• Butchers Arms (3-6pm)
• Tuesday
• Beccles Library (9.30am – 12pm)
• Butchers Arms (3-6pm)
• Wednesday
• Salvation Army Hall (10am – 2pm)*
• Butchers Arms (3-6pm)
• Thursday
• St Luke’s Lunch Club (12.30 – 2pm) – limited numbers
• Butchers Arms (3-6pm)
• Friday
• Hungate Church (10am -12pm)
• St Michael’s Church (10am – 12pm)
• Hungate Church (12-1pm)*
• Butchers Arms (3-6pm)
• Saturday
• St Luke’s Café (9.30-11am)
• Beccles Library (9.30am – 5pm)
• Sunday
• Beccles Library (10am – 4pm)

*lunches served

Anyone wishing to use a Warm Room is welcome to just turn up, with no need to book.

Any voluntary organisations or businesses interested in donating space to become a Warm Room is invited to contact communities@eastsuffolk.gov.uk

East Suffolk Council understands the pressures faced by many people today and is working closely with partners and stakeholders to ensure support is available to help ease the squeeze for households in East Suffolk: www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/squeeze

About Comfort Food

Beccles Comfort Food is a new food support scheme in Beccles to provide households who are struggling with the cost of living. The scheme is part of a wider set of cost-of-living support projects being developed by East Suffolk Council.

The Beccles scheme is funded by East Suffolk councillors Caroline Topping, Sarah Plummer and Elfrede Brambley-Crawshaw and Suffolk County Councillor for Beccles, Peggy McGregor, and is voucher-based, meaning a household must be issued with a voucher from a referral hub in the town. Once the household has the voucher, they can redeem the voucher at local cafés.

The local community is invited to help support this initiative by spreading the message to those in need and if they can, by providing a small donation at the Beccles Community Hub on Blyburgate.

If Comfort Food would help your household with the cost of living, please get in touch with sam.kenward@eastsuffolk.gov.uk or leave a message at 01502 523119.