Welcome Spaces, formerly Warm Spaces, are to continue this winter to support community venues across County Durham.
Durham County Council are again working alongside the County Durham Community Foundation (CDCF) to offer funding to the voluntary and community sector in creating a network of spaces where people can receive a warm welcome.
We know that many organisations across County Durham already provide the facilities of a welcome space. If yours is one of those, we’re asking you to consider joining our Welcome Spaces Network and be promoted to residents as a Welcome Space near them.
Find your local Welcome Space and the facilities they can offer on Locate: Welcome Spaces.
Grant funding to support your Welcome Space
DCC in partnership with County Durham Community Foundation are offering grants from to community groups to help them offer a Welcome Space. This could be something set up specifically to help people this winter or to support and widen an existing service that you offer. For example, the grant could cover the costs of providing a designated space with chairs and hot drinks, open at regular times each week.
The online application is available at www.cdcf.org.uk
The fund will also consider applications from local groups running activities for a particular community, such as a toddler group. The grants could be used for the following purposes:
- utility bills, including gas and electricity
- staff time
- volunteer expenses
- venue hire
- equipment or furniture (for example extra chairs) for the warm space
- the provision of drinks and food for those accessing the warm space
If you run a regular event at a community centre and hire a room, please check if the community centre is applying as only one grant will be awarded per venue.
Free training for Welcome Spaces
To help organisations set up Welcome Spaces we are offering free training to help organisations who need it. Details of this will be provided when you make your application or register your warm space. Training on offer includes:
- where to signpost people to for advice and support
- people skills
- making the most of your income
- food safety including managing allergens
- safeguarding
- domestic abuse awareness
- mental health first aid
- risk assessments
Other support
Organisations wishing to offer a Welcome Space without accessing the additional funding can email welcomespaces@durham.gov.uk to sign up to the charter. Details of these will also be added to Locate.
The online application is available at www.cdcf.org.uk