Council Community Houses transformed into Centres for Warmth
Community Houses will also be operating as ‘Centres for Warmth’ to provide warm, safe, and welcoming spaces for residents who are struggling with the cost of living thanks to funding from Cadent.
The centres, based in Earl Shilton, Barwell, Wykin and Burbage, have proven to be a lifeline to many residents for many years and this new funding will extend the offer of services available at the houses as well as providing opportunities to take some of the expanded services available out into communities across the borough.
The Houses work with residents and young people, encouraging them to become involved in community projects and activities, helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and encourage a sense of pride in the area. At each centre, Welfare Support Officers work directly with residents who are struggling to pay bills by sharing ways to maximise income. Benefits advice is also provided, while residents can learn about how to gain access to grants.
The funding from Cadent will provide support with money management, energy advice, ‘cooking on a budget’ classes, carbon monoxide awareness sessions with access to free alarms, home energy efficiency advice and free gas safety checks.
At a recent visit, representatives from Cadent and the Borough Council got involved with the cooking on a budget session, learning to cook family favourites recipes using a slow cooker.
The lessons are part of a series of slow cooker session at the George Ward Centre, Barwell. Funded through Cadent, a community development worker will give six slow cooker sessions at the Family and Toddler group on a fortnightly basis to show young families how they can make delicious, healthy food in simple and budget-friendly ways. Free hot drinks and refreshments will also be provided.
Emma Turnbull, Safeguarding Specialist, Cadent said: “We are delighted to be working with the Borough Council and assisting the Community Houses to become ‘Centres for Warmth’. We already have 200 centres across the country and the funding we can provide will allow for expert local advisors to provide financial, energy efficiency and gas safety advice, and purchase hundreds of slow cookers which we hope will be of benefit to local residents.”
Find out more about the Community Houses and what they can offer. Alternatively, you can telephone 01455 255941.
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