Somewhere comfortable to escape the heat

When a red-heat warning led local schools to close in east Bristol, the team at Hillfields Community Garden knew that many families would need somewhere safe and comfortable to escape the heat.

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Hillfields Park Community Centre had reopened in July 2025, after being empty for more than a year and a half. Since then, it has become a welcoming place for people in the local community to meet, connect and spend time together.

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So when the hot weather arrived, the team knew they could offer something their community needed: somewhere to stay cool, with plenty of space for children to play and families to spend time together.

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They quickly put together a plan and shared a poster on social media, inviting people to their Cool Space on 24 and 25 June. They had no idea just how far the message would travel.

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The team prepared the centre to keep everyone as cool and comfortable as possible, blocking out the sunlight, keeping the windows closed and switching on the air conditioning. They also made sure there was plenty of cold water available, along with ice creams, ice pops and hundreds of cheese sandwiches for families to enjoy.

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They wanted the centre to feel welcoming for children too, so there was plenty to keep them occupied. The sports hall was set up with climbing equipment and table tennis, while other rooms offered board games and colouring activities. A dedicated baby play room was also created, with soft mats and toys, alongside a quiet room for anyone who needed some space to themselves.

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The Cool Space quickly proved to be a hit with the local community, with around 500 people coming through the doors over two days.

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Some families had travelled from miles away, with Hillfields one of the only Cool Spaces in east Bristol. Many stayed for the full three hours, arriving at midday and leaving at 3pm.

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For some parents, simply walking into a cool building brought an enormous sense of relief.

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“People were so happy to walk into the cool centre that some nearly broke down crying.”

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One woman arrived with five children, including a baby, and told the team: “I could cry, I’m so happy to be here.”

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The warmth of the welcome was felt by families throughout the two days. One local parent told the team: “You are literally life savers for some families. It was lovely to see so many people come together!! Thank you to you and all your team.”

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Another parent shared their appreciation for the people who made the Cool Space possible: “I do appreciate all the workers, volunteers and staff that work so hard to provide the best for everyone as always.”

For the team, the Cool Space offered much more than a break from the heat. It gave children somewhere safe to play, gave parents a chance to relax and created opportunities for neighbours to meet and spend time together.

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It also brought people together at a time when many were feeling the effects of the extreme temperatures. Some families had travelled a long way to reach the centre, and the team noticed that many parents arrived looking exhausted, particularly those who had pushed buggies through the heat.

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For Hillfields Community Garden, the experience showed just how much difference a welcoming community space can make when people need it most.

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The team is also exploring grants to help fund solar panels for the centre’s large roof, with the aim of using more renewable energy in the future. They hope this will not only help make the building more sustainable, but encourage other community buildings to explore what they can do to use renewable energy too. 

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With more extreme heat predicted in the years ahead, the team believes that more Cool Spaces will be needed so that people can find somewhere nearby to stay cool and comfortable.

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Their advice to other Warm Welcome Spaces is to think about how their buildings can be kept cool and what simple activities they could put on to help people stay comfortable and occupied during hot weather.

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“We are on the front-line of climate change. Let’s use our community assets for the community!”

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Is your Space a Cool Space?

If your Warm Welcome Space can offer a cool, welcoming place for people during hot weather, you can register your Space as a Cool Space on our map.

By registering, you can help people in your community find somewhere nearby to stay cool, comfortable and connected when temperatures rise.

Register your Cool Space on the map HERE.

Find out how to register your Space as a Cool Space by watching this video.

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