Since December, residents have been able to take advantage of a ‘place to go’ to keep warm and meet new people.
The Warm Banks were set up at a number of locations around Hailsham to not only combat the cost of living crisis, but also give a place for people in need to keep warm, get advice and socialise.
The Town Council is concerned about the town’s residents and what cost-of-living issues many might face this winter. ‘Warm Banks’ (also referred to as ‘Warm Hubs’) have become widespread everywhere, with a lot of councils, including those at parish level, having opened them because it is necessary in many cases.
At a recent Town Council Assets Meeting, the success of the project was discussed and councillors spoke about how the hubs have been welcoming a variety of visitors over the last two months.
At the James West Centre, the hubs coincide with the Pass It On Community Fridge project which has grown in popularity since that was launched last year. It was said around 2,000 bags of food are collected every single month.
The Pass It On Community Fridge is a vital support for residents who cannot afford, or simply wants to stop food going to waste. Produce is collected from local supermarkets and is available to anyone to collect every weekend at the centre. The service is not means tested and is a great way to make use of food that supermarkets may dispose of.
The Warm Bank is open from 10am to noon on Saturdays and Sundays until the end of February, where Hot drinks are available and people attending are encouraged to bring board games, books and other items with them.
Other Warm Hubs are located at the Charles Hunt Centre in Vicarage Field, operating on weekdays from 9am-3.30pm (for over 55s only), Hailsham Library in Western Road, while not a designated Warm Bank as such, welcomes visitors and their facility is open for residents as a place to read books, access computers and keep warm at the same time.
Town Clerk John Harrison said: “Local community groups and voluntary associations have always been quick to respond to the needs of the people of our town and this has further been demonstrated by the Town Council’s provision of its own warm bank facilities at the James West Community Centre and the Square Youth Cafe during the winter months ahead.”
“Whilst warm banks are not the only solution to helping people affected by the cost-of-living crisis keep warm, they certainly can help.”
“The Town Council’s discussions concerning Warm Banks in Hailsham have been both necessary and highly productive, and we will continue to do everything we can right to try and protect our residents.”
