Warm Welcome Somerset
We are working with partners to develop a network of Warm Welcome spaces where people can find warmth, company and support amid the cost-of-living crisis.
What is a Warm Welcome Space?
A Warm Welcome space offers support to local residents who may be at risk of fuel poverty, loneliness, or isolation. Hosted in community venues such as village halls, community centres, and places of worship, these spaces provide a friendly environment where people can socialise, enjoy refreshments, and take part in activities.
Each Warm Welcome space is unique and hosted as often as possible, with the essentials of a seat, a hot drink, and a welcoming atmosphere. You’ll need basic insurance, safeguarding policies, and risk assessments, and we’re here to help you get these in place if needed.
We ask all venues to sign the Warm Welcome Charter, which outlines what visitors can expect and how they will be treated.
Upon registration, your venue will be added to an online map of Warm Welcome spaces in Somerset.
Become a Warm Welcome space
If you would like to provide a Warm Welcome and add your venue to the online map, please click the link below.
The Warm Welcome Charter
It’s really important that people feel comfortable, safe and welcome to use your space, so we ask every venue that provides a Warm Welcome to agree to the following Charter:
You’ll get a Warm Welcome as well as warm space
Every time you visit our venue you’ll be guaranteed a warm welcome from our friendly volunteers and staff.
Everyone is treated equally, with dignity and respect
We all have a right to be warm, so everyone who visits us will be treated with dignity and respect (and we ask for the same in return).
Our Warm Welcome will be a safe space
We will adhere to our usual safeguarding and food hygiene policies. We will also take reasonable precautions to reduce the spread of winter viruses such as flu and Covid.
We’ll not tell anyone about you visiting a Warm Welcome
If you want to share the reasons you visit a Warm Welcome, someone will listen, but we won’t tell anyone else unless you give us permission or we have concerns about your safety.
Funding support
Looking for funding for your Warm Welcome space? Our friendly team is here to help.
Looking for volunteers?
Advertise your opportunities and contact potential volunteers for free on our volunteering platform, Spark a Change.
More things to consider...
Here are some more things you may need to consider if you are thinking of setting up a Warm welcome space.
- Is your venue accessible?
- Could you signpost people to other services and sources of support?
- How will you look after your volunteers and staff and what are your safeguarding responsibilities?
- How many people can your venue hold?
- How will you promote your space to members of the public?
The Guide to Setting Up a Warm Space in your Community, produced by the Martin Lewis Charity Fund, contains lots of useful Information on all of these topics and more!
Need our support?
To talk to our team about setting up a Warm Welcome space or any of the topics mentioned on this page, please get in touch.
It’s so important for those who have been affected by the rising fuel costs to have a local space where they can feel safe, warm and welcomed, and that is what we are able to bring to our local community.
– Hilary Chittenden, The Old Stores Studio CIC
You may also like...
The latest news and updates from Spark Somerset and the wider sector.
Warm Welcome Somerset is supported by the Household Support Fund ‘Help Through Winter’ programme. This programme is funded by Somerset Council who are working alongside partners across education and the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector to deliver essential support to families and residents.