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Myths & Realities
About Warm Welcome Spaces
Myth:
Reality:
Reality: Warm Spaces are there for everyone, you’ll always be welcomed in with a cuppa and a smile. Gender or age doesn’t matter, they are diverse and inclusive spaces for everyone. Just like @wrccrural community hub which sees male attendees enjoying the space regularly.Every space is different and offers lots of different activities from keeping fit and cycling to crafting and board games. And many say they just come for a cuppa and a chat, to connect with their community, forging new relationships or getting more involved by volunteering in the space.
Myth:
Reality:
Every Warm Space is unique and has different opening times. Lots are open in the day, others open in the evening and on weekends.
You can search for your nearest warm space on our online map, and it will show you opening times and days of the week.
Just like FFa Coffee in Newport who held a junior baking workshop during half term for local children to attend.
With nearly a third of Warm Spaces being libraries, and many libraries open seven days a week, you can visit a warm space as little or as often as you like. You don’t have to book or commit, just turn up when it fits with your life.
Myth:
Reality:
Everyone is welcome to join a Warm Welcome Space, they are there for every age and every gender, for families with children, for young people, and for older people alike. They are inclusive spaces and offer an open invitation to everyone.
Just like Lee Hub Independent Community Library who celebrated for Chinese New Year earlier this year, with a variety of sessions from Tai Chi sessions, Chinese Food Tasting and children's crafts - ensuring there was something for people of all ages to enjoy.
Lots of spaces offer a drop-in for families during the school run. It’s a time to relax in the warmth, grab a cuppa and give their child a warm space to play and have fun.
Myth:
Reality:
Last year guests coming to warm spaces said one of their three top reasons for coming was to meet friends old and new.
Warm Spaces are there for everyone in the community, whatever their circumstance. People may come for the warmth and then come back again and again for the welcome. Just like those at the Friendship Cafe in Alford, Aberdeenshire, who regularly meet as a community to celebrate birthdays, Burns Night and Christmas.
They do play a really important role in helping everyone struggling with the cost-of-living crisis by providing warmth and support and are equally there for anyone who wants to feel part of the community and anyone struggling with loneliness.
Myth:
Reality:
Warm Spaces are great for meeting and connecting with others, but they can also be safe, comfortable places to just be. Many guests at Warm Spaces have commented on how staff or volunteers have allowed them this space to be by themselves without bothering them.
Many spaces, particularly libraries, offer newspapers to read and other quiet activities which guests can come and enjoy by themselves in the warmth, interacting with others as they choose to.
Take @letstalkhopest - a space that originally opened its doors to provide peer-support to help with the mental health crisis. They now welcome people from a range of backgrounds including people living with disabilities and families. Peer-groups for LGBTQIA people, people living with autism, people living with dementia and their carers, and cancer patients enabling guests to meet others who share their journey.
So whatever your preference, be it to chat and meet new people or spend some quiet time in a safe space, you are so welcome at our Warm Welcome Spaces.
Myth:
Reality:
Warm Welcome Spaces come in all shapes and sizes: community centres, libraries, places of worship, community cafes, arts centres, sports centres, local businesses, and schools, so there’s something for everyone.
You might be surprised where you’ll find a warm space. Some are in pop up cafés, and over a third of all warm spaces are local libraries. No matter where the space is based, you can be assured of a very warm and friendly welcome.
Places of worship also play a big part in Warm Welcome. The campaign all started when church leaders and the former PM, Gordon Brown came together to see what they could do to support communities through the cost-of-living crisis. But you don’t need to have faith to get involved - a quote from an attendee at a Church WW Space - “I’m not a Christian, but here you don’t feel like you’re different”.
Every warm space, whether a place or worship or something else, offers communities an open invitation.
Myth:
Reality:
Often people expect Warm Spaces to be a place of sadness but that couldn't be further from reality 😊
Our Warm Welcome Spaces provide safe and welcoming environments to meet and connect with local people or somewhere to just have a nice chat.
Meet Sandra - a volunteer at one of our Bristol Warm Spaces. She spent some time drawing her "warmest friend" Sandra alongside several other members at the space - bringing in a sense of warmth, love and happiness.