Newham Council is working with partners to keep places like libraries and other community buildings open for longer, as they set up 16 ‘warm havens’ in the borough.
The havens have been set up as part of the borough’s response to the cost of living crisis.
Newham has the second highest fuel poverty rate in London and the 21st highest fuel poverty rate nationally, the council claims.
Rokshana Fiaz, the Mayor of Newham said: “It is not right that, in one of the richest countries in the world, so many of our residents are unable to afford to heat their homes and are facing financial instability due to inflation, soaring energy bills, and rising food costs.”
At the moment there are ten libraries and six community centres that are dedicated warm havens.
These are confidential spaces that are free of charge for any resident who needs somewhere warm and safe to stay.
All libraries in Newham will now also have extended opening hours until 8pm Monday through Saturday and many will begin to open on Sundays from mid-November.
The Warm Havens Programme will run until 31 March to help families through the coldest months.
The council is also offering small grants of up to £500 to organisations or local community groups that want to support residents facing difficulties.
The library warm havens are:
- Beckton Globe Library
- Canning Town Library
- Custom House Library
- East Ham Library
- Forest Gate Library
- Green Street Library
- Manor Park Library
- North Woolwich Library
- Plaistow Library
- Stratford Library.
The warm havens in community centres are at:
- Trinity Community Centre
- Katherine Road Community Centre
- Woodman Community Centre
- Jack Cornwell Community Centre
- Jeyes Community Centre
- Forest Lane Lodge.
The sites are advertised on the council’s interactive map at: https://www.newham.gov.uk/warmhavens.
Featured Image credit: © 2022 Andrew Baker
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