42 ‘warm spaces’ have been created in Rochdale to help people cope with the cost-of-living crisis.

Warm spaces are public venues that anyone can visit to keep warm if they are struggling to heat their homes, with cost of living help and advice available. The full list of warm spaces in Rochdale can be found here.

Rochdale MP, Tony Lloyd, said, “People in Rochdale and across the country are under the cosh because of increased living costs, food and energy bills.

“A range of help and advice is available from Rochdale Council and other organisations and those who are stepping up to support people in the absence of proper government support must be commended but it shouldn’t have to be like this.

“Labour in government will reduce energy costs and insulate homes, saving households up to £1,400 off their annual bills not just for one year, but for years to come. This would be paid for by bringing in a proper one-off windfall tax on energy giants and spending that on a package of support for energy bills.”

Across the UK, at least 12,834 ‘warm spaces’ have opened. According to latest figures, there are 1431 warm spaces in the North West alone, with 42 here in Rochdale.

Warm spaces are public venues that anyone can visit to keep warm and have been opened by local councils, community organisations and faith groups. The surge in warm spaces comes amidst a fuel poverty crisis:

• The Energy Price Cap for the average household is set to rise by £500 in April 2023 to £3,000.
• 8.6 million households are estimated to fall into fuel poverty from April 2023, and 3 million low-income households currently cannot afford to heat their homes.

List of Warm Spaces in the borough of Rochdale:

• Warm Space at Alkrington Library, Middleton

• Warm Space at Aspire 2 Inspire, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Back o’ th’ Moss Community Centre, Heywood

• Warm Space at Balderstone Library, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Bangladesh Association and Community Project Centre, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Bowlee Pavilion, Middleton

• Warm Space at Branches Christian Fellowship, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Burnside Centre, Middleton

• Warm Space at Castleton Library, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Darnhill Library, Heywood

• Warm Space at Deeplish Community Centre, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Demesne Community Centre, Middleton

• Warm Space at Hare Hill Extra Care Scheme Community Cafe, Littleborough

• Warm Space at Hebron Pentecostal Church, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Heywood Sports Village, Heywood

• Warm Space at Junction Library, Middleton

• Warm Space at Kirkholt Community Church, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Langley Library, Middleton

• Warm Space at Littleborough Library, Littleborough

• Warm Space at Middleton Arena, Middleton

• Warm Space at Middleton Library, Middleton

• Warm Space at Milnrow Library, Milnrow

• Warm Space at New Life Church, Milnrow

• Warm Space at Norden Library, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Open Mind, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Our Spot, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Rochdale Central Library, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Rochdale Leisure Centre, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Sandon House Helping Hands Cafe, Heywood

• Warm Space at Smallbridge Library, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Smithy Bridge Library, Littleborough

• Warm Space at Spotland Community Centre, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Spotland Library, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Syke Community Base, Rochdale

• Warm Space at The Hub, Alkrington

• Warm Space at The Lighthouse Project, Middleton

• Warm Space at The Salvation Army, Rochdale

• Warm Space at The Strand Community Hub, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Touchstones Rochdale, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Unity House, Rochdale

• Warm Space at Wardle Library, Wardle

• Warm Space at Wardleworth Community Centre, Rochdale

—Ends—
 

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Notes to Editors:

• Warm spaces are public venues that anyone can visit to keep warm if they are struggling to heat their homes. The full list of warm spaces in Rochdale can be found here.

• Warm spaces have been opened by councils in council-run facilities such as libraries, museums and town halls as well as community venues like churches, charities, and cafés

• Labour analysis of 405 district, borough and county councils reveal there are at least 12,834 warm spaces in the UK; 42 in Rochdale; this figure comes from:

○ 372 FOI responses from local authorities

○ https://www.warmwelcome.uk/, a national register of warm spaces:

Region	Number of Warm Spaces
East Midlands	839
East of England	1257
London	1017
North East	809
North West	1431
Northern Ireland	311
Scotland	1689
South East	1190
South West	1230
Wales	1237
West Midlands	807
Yorkshire and The Humber	1017
Grand Total	12834

• The Energy Price Guarantee will rise to £3,000 for the average household in April 2023 (link).

• Over 3 million low-income households cannot afford to heat their homes (link).

• 8.6 million households are estimated to be in fuel poverty as of April 2023 meaning they live in energy-inefficient homes and have a residual income below the official poverty line after paying to heat their homes (link).  

• Rachel Reeves recent speech setting out Labour’s cost of living support plans can be found here.