As temperatures plummet and storms sweep across the UK – and with the cost-of-living crisis reaching unprecedented heights – the struggle to keep warm is becoming more palpable for people across the region.
At the heart of Liverpool, LCFA Sefton have teamed up with Sefton Warm Spaces to make ‘The Cross Bar’ on site a warm space Monday-Friday for the local community to keep warm this winter.
There are over 40 Warm Spaces across the borough, including community hubs, centres, and libraries, where people can go to connect with others, enjoy a cup of tea and engage in different activities without having to worry about putting the heating on.
Adam Greaves-Smith, Liverpool County FA Business Manager, said: “This building is open seven days a week.
“It’s warm, it’s dry, we have friendly staff on site. For us it was a no brainer really to open our doors a little bit more and make sure the community have somewhere that they can come whenever they need to not just for football.’’
The cost of living has risen in recent months in the UK and across the world. The cost-of-living latest insights suggest that 45% of adults in Great Britain are using less fuel, such as gas or electricity in their homes because of the rising cost of living.
Adam said: “The world’s in a bit of a dyer situation at the minute, the cost-of-living crisis is really impacting Liverpool as a city and the Northwest as an area in general.
“Food banks are getting busier sadly, energy prices, gas prices, everything is really high. Unfortunately people don’t want to turn the heating on as much, people haven’t got as many places to sit and relax in the warmth, which is where buildings like this, I think, are key.”
The Warm Space welcomes everyone Monday through Friday, providing a cosy environment from 9am to 9pm allowing people to unwind, watch TV, enjoy a cup of tea, and alleviate concerns about heating expenses.
For more information, and to find your nearest Warm Space, visit Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) here
Watch Cassie Ward’s video report here:
Featured image: Cassie Ward
