Birmingham to welcome its 300th warm bank as energy bills rise and the winter weather sets in

Hundreds of community centres, libraries, places of worship and other venues have opened their doors to offer Warm Welcomes across Birmingham during the Cost of Living crisis.

And this winter, the city’s warm bank network of community spaces will reach 300 – as the need for support provided by the network has continued. To date - since their launch last year - Birmingham City Council has advised that 280 Warm Welcomes have been registered across various free spaces which offer community and support, as well as somewhere to keep warm. Initially there were eight warm banks in the city.

What exactly do the Warm Welcome Spaces offer?

These spaces will be available for people to use and visit during the winter period and beyond. Warm Welcome Spaces are inclusive and non-judgmental and they are also heated and free to access. People will be able to get advice on how to cope during the cost-of-living crisis, and will also be provided with information on how to get help.

The services at each space will vary, but will include:

• information on further support and available guidance
• opportunities to participate in activities and learn new things
• free internet access, computers and charging points
• a friendly environment to connect with others within the community

An exhibition celebrating Birmingham’s Warm Welcomes, is currently on display until March 2024 at Handsworth Library – which has around 250 visitors a day to access a range of activities and facilities. Yesterday (Thursday, November 9) the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Chaman Lal, met some of the visitors and took part in a free crafting session.

Lord Mayor said: “The work being done across by the council and its partners to help citizens who are struggling with the cost of living is to be applauded. Birmingham’s Warm Welcomes provide somewhere local people can come together – whether that’s having someone to talk to or listen to your situation – wherever they are in our city.

“It was lovely to be able to spend time with some of the visitors to Handsworth Library and hear how we – together with a wide range of partners – are providing that much needed advice, support and sense of community.”   You can find out where the Warm Welcome warm banks are located here: Warm banks in Birmingham

What else is being done to help residents in need in Birmingham amid the cost of living crisis?

As of October 2023, Birmingham City Council advised that the Neighbourhood Advice and Information Service (NAIS) – working with third sector organisations - has supported 3,327 residents in maximising their benefits and income to a total of £4,157,130.

People helped include Eve who visited the NAIS office last Christmas looking for help and financial support, only to discover she could claim £22,000 in income maximisation.

The council has launched a Cost of Living Programme and says the next phase will focus on the root causes of poverty in Birmingham – low rates of unemployment, persistent earnings gap and wider social exclusion.

Cllr Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, said: "While the council is facing significant challenges, our commitment to improving the lives of citizens and communities remains, especially as the cost of living crisis shows no signs of abating.

“Since Warm Welcomes were launched last year, it’s been fantastic to see the network continue to grow across the city. We have been working with our partners in community, faith and voluntary sectors - as a result have seen a wide variety of spaces sign up to offer Warm Welcomes and the positive impact they are having in their local communities.

“For many, being in crisis can be lonely and isolating so this is not just about being warm, it’s about local communities coming together to support one another throughout the year, not just during the winter months.

“Many organisations and groups offer this support all year round, but the tightening grip the cost of living has on so many of our citizens mean these places are needed more than ever.”