Several warm banks are taking in people who cannot afford to heat their homes due to the cost of living crisis.

Warm Welcome, a campaign group, has compiled a map of warm spaces across the UK – with 11 open in Blackburn with Darwen as of December 1.

The charity said nearly 2,700 warm banks were open across the country at this time, including 337 in the North West.

The figures come as the charity cautions that hundreds of thousands of people on low incomes are at risk during the extreme low temperatures hitting the UK.

The soaring cost of fuel and basic essentials has led to the rise of so-called 'warm banks' – locations such as churches and libraries which people can visit if they are struggling to afford heating.

They come in various shapes and sizes, and may provide other support – such as food, hot drinks, and internet access.

The charity says that more spaces are opening every day across the country, and that it is working hard to register new organisations that are helping out – meaning that the real figure could be higher.

Manager of the Warm Welcome campaign, David Barclay, called it "unacceptable" that people are being forced to decide whether to heat their homes or eat.

But he said that the response from civil society has provided "cause for hope" – with the number of warm spaces rising significantly from just 350 at the start of October.

Mr Barclay added that warm banks could also have a role in the fight against loneliness in the UK, providing vulnerable people with community support.

The figures come as a cold snap grips the UK.

Here are all the warm hubs registers with Warm Welcome in Blackburn with Darwen

 

  • Blackburn Library, Town Hall Street
  • Cherry Tree Library
  • Mill Hill Library
  • The Bureau Centre for the Arts, Penny Street
  • Salvation Army, Vicar Street
  • Roman Road Library
  • Woodlands Church, Preston Old Road
  • Big Local, Accrington Road
  • Central URC DARE Group, Darwen
  • Darwen Library
  • Darwen Heritage Centre

A spokesperson for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “We know the pressures people are facing with rising costs, which is why we have continually taken action to help households by phasing in £37 billion worth of support.

“This includes £1,200 to help pay their bills and the two-year Energy Price Guarantee, that will save a typical household £1,000 annually."