Over the last month, around 150 community venues across Leeds have opened their doors to people who want to share a warm welcome and spend time with others. Over 100 of these organisations have been from Third and Faith Sectors, often building their Warm Space around their regular community activities. 

Voluntary Action Leeds has been working closely with colleagues from Leeds City Council, Forum Central, Leeds Food Aid Network and Wellsprings Together to promote the city’s Warm Spaces Map and encourage organisations to set up Warm Spaces.  

We have recently received funding from the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Cost of Living Emergency Fund which enables us to make a contribution towards the additional energy and other costs that third sector and Faith organisations have incurred through being a Warm Space. We are starting to contact organisations registered on the Warm Spaces map, offering them grants to help them meet these additional costs. 

We have been inspired that so many organisations have stepped forward to become a Warm Space. The current round of grants has been made available to organisations registered on the Warm Spaces map up to the end of 9 December 2022. 

Over the coming weeks, we will work with the 150 existing Warm Spaces and our partners to understand who is attending Warm Spaces and in which neighbourhoods. Early in the New Year, we plan to launch a funding round which will prioritise filling identified gaps in provision and take into account any further organisations registered. 

Voluntary Action Leeds

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