Thanks to additional internal funding, the Council was able to allocate a total of £61,000, rather than £50,000 initially announced for local organisations to open and run warm spaces across the borough, providing vital winter support for our residents from January to April 2023.

The successful bids have joined a growing list of warm hubs on offer across the borough.  Providing a warm and welcoming space for residents to come and sit, with some locations dedicating specific support for young families, the homeless, LGBTQ+ communities, the elderly, residents on low incomes, and activities to tackle loneliness.  

Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council said: “No one in our borough should have to choose between heating and eating this winter, but sadly that is the reality so many face due to the cost of living crisis. This is not just a crisis of personal finances but will have dire consequences for people’s wider health and wellbeing which is why warm and welcoming spaces are vital in offering support locally.”

Cllr Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Equality, Culture and Communities said: “As our most vulnerable residents continue to battle the cost of living crisis, we are proud of the number of community centres, places of worship, sports clubs and charities who want to work with the Council to offer support.

“To have support in almost every ward is not a small feat, while more work still needs to be done, we look forward to continued work with our partners.”

Cllr Ann-Marie Cousins, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement said: “Providing safe spaces for people who feel isolated and trapped by spiralling bills is a positive step for our borough in tackling the cost of living crisis, and just the beginning of working with the community to support those who need it most.”

Grants of between £300 and £3,000 have been issued to: 

• The Moorings Social Club, Thamesmead Moorings 
• Bridge Support, Woolwich Arsenal 
• Woolwich Front Room, Woolwich Arsenal 
• Quaggy Development Trust, Greenwich Park, Charlton Village, Charlton Hornfair 
• Middle Park Community Centre, Middle Park & Horn Park 
• Queercircle, Greenwich Peninsula 
• Samuel Montagu Youth Centre, Kidbrooke Park 
• Clockhouse Community Centre, Woolwich Dockyard 
• Foxfield Primary School, Woolwich Common 
• Hawksmoor Youth Club, Thamesmead Moorings 
• Emmaus Greenwich, Kidbrooke Village 
• Abbey Wood Community Group, Abbey Wood 
• West Thamesmead Community Association, West Thamesmead 
• Friends of Barnsfield Estate, Shooters Hill 
• Shrewsbury House Community Centre, Shooters Hill 
• Age Exchange, Westcombe Blackheath 
• Home-Start Greenwich, Plumstead Common / Woolwich Common 
• Roots4Life, Eltham Town and Avery Hill 
• The Forum @ Greenwich, East Greenwich 
• Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network, Woolwich Common 
• St John's Church, Plumstead & Glyndon 
• Greenwich Inclusion Project (Hamara Assraworking), Woolwich Dockyard 

For residents struggling with benefits, every day costs, food and supporting their families visit Greenwich Supports, you can also find a map of support in the borough at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/greenwich-supports-map