Community groups around the city are to receive funding from the Affordable Warmth and Energy Saving Community Grants scheme ahead of winter. A total of 32 successful organisations will now be able to provide projects which will help local people stay warm and well through the colder months, as the cost of living crisis continues.
Charities, faith groups and residents’ associations right across the city are among the successful bidders. Projects will provide a range of support including warm spaces, cooking-on-a-budget-classes, social activities, warm goods like electric blankets and slow cookers, advice sessions and much more. The work will take place across the city, ensuring support is easy to reach for local communities – there is also targeted work designed to reach marginalised people.
“It’s sad that our society needs these community spaces but, we’re pleased to be able to provide support to local community groups and the vital work they do. We received many applications and are confident these successful projects will make a real difference to local residents right across the city.
“The council wants those who are struggling to have somewhere to turn to for help – and we’re doing just that.”
Funding for the Affordable Warmth and Energy Saving Community Grants scheme is from the Household Support Fund, provided by the Department of Work and Pension. Over £250,000 is being used in help the local community with these initiatives, the bulk being provided via Hull City Council, but also thanks to a generous contribution from local boiler company Ideal Heating.
Successful projects include:
- Back to Ours will hold family-friendly activities in a community warm space, and provide warm packs, containing slow cookers, clothing and electric blankets, as well as energy advice
- Neighbourhood Network is to use the Alf Marshall Centre for multiple projects including a family cooking hub, Christmas money advice, specialised SEN support, energy advice, hot snacks and more. Opening hours will ensure that there is a warm space available in the area when the nearby library (also a warm space) is shut
- Holderness Road Methodist Church is organising dedicated support for homeless people, with a warm space, targeted advice and packs of goods to help people
- West Hull Community Hub will host a warm space, with a food pantry, social activities and distribution of warm goods
- Hull Centre for the Deaf will be opening a warm space for deaf people providing food, and advice on energy saving and budgeting in British Sign Language
- Toranj Tuition will be offering warm spaces specifically for refugees and migrants, with film nights and food from their home countries
- The other projects range from community-wide work, to very targeted help for people including refugees, those who are learning English, those with young children, disabled people and older people.
