Bath Abbey is one of the ‘warm spaces’ involved.
How would you like to aid a local support fund which has already helped many vital community projects is now supporting Warm Spaces in Bath and North East Somerset.
The Community Contribution Fund run by Bath & North East Somerset Council received £25,000 in support from kind-hearted residents in 2021 which was shared between 15 community projects to reduce inequalities in the district.
For 2022, more than £4,500 has been donated by the public to date and will be used to provide £250 grants to community-run Warm Spaces registered with the council.
So far, 14 grants have been approved and will support the Warm Spaces with costs such as energy, Wi-Fi provision, food and drink and providing activities.
The Warm Spaces that have been awarded funding so far are:
- Bath Abbey
- St Luke’s Church, Bath
- Whitchurch Community Centre
- Love Weston Café, Weston, Bath
- Age UK B&NES St Michael’s Centre, Bath
- Keynsham Elim Church – Toasties, Keynsham
- Weston Welcome Café, Weston, Bath
- St Dunstan’s Church, Keynsham
- Radstock Community Hub and Library
- Timsbury Community Library
- St John’s Church, Keynsham
- Southside Youth Hub, Bath
- Keynsham Methodist Church
- St Andrew’s Church, Foxhill, Bath
The council is highlighting that there are still many more registered Warm Spaces needing this important support. Applications to the Community Contribution Fund for Warm Spaces grants have closed temporarily but will re-open if further funds are generated. Residents who may be looking to make a charity donation this Christmas are asked to consider the Community Contribution Fund.
Donations can be made at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/donate-community-contribution-fund.
Councillor Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Resources, said: “It’s fantastic that thanks to the kindness of residents, so many Warm Spaces and important local projects are supporting people in our communities who have been disadvantaged by their circumstances. However, more community organisations looking to open Warm Spaces still need financial help, which is why we will be allocating all Community Contribution Fund donations to Warm Spaces in the coming year.
“We appreciate that with the increasing costs of living, it will be impossible for many people to spare any money to help others. However, we know that some residents will be looking for a good cause to donate to this Christmas – perhaps instead of sending cards – and so we would be grateful if you would consider the Community Contribution Fund. Every penny will go directly towards helping people in your local community to keep warm this winter.”
The council set up a network of Warm Spaces earlier this year. There are now 50 registered Warm Spaces which can be found here: https://livewell.bathnes.gov.uk/warm-places-list
The Community Contribution Fund was first launched in March 2021 as a pilot scheme. More than 300 people donated to the fund in its first year and just over £25,000 was raised by the autumn of 2021 before opening for applications from charitable, voluntary and community organisations.
Twenty-nine applications were received for a range of projects supporting the most vulnerable. These were assessed by a panel of councillors at the end of January and following due diligence checks, the 15 successful applicants were announced in April.
The Fund is administered by the council but is not used to supplement council services.
