The first grants from Richmondshire’s ‘warm spaces’ scheme have been made to seven community groups.

The grant funding will help them open safe, warm and welcome places for local people to use this winter.

Through the District Council’s ‘Warm and Welcome Spaces’ scheme cash has gone to Colburn Village Hall; The Bridge, Catterick; The Methodist Church, Richmond; Reeth Community Transport in partnership with The Kings Arms Hotel; Richmond Station; and the Leyburn Arts Centre.

The scheme has been set up in response to the current cost-of-living crisis to support community organisations to open a network of warm, safe and welcoming spaces to help people struggling with the cost of living, especially residents worried about the cost of heating their homes during the winter months.

It allows community venues including village halls, community centres and social clubs to access funding – to provide everything from a warm space, to hot food and hot desking. 

To apply to the fund email: grants@richmondshire.gov.uk.

All the spaces will be included in an online directory. For details of Warm and Welcome Spaces or to register a space on the directory visit our winter health and wellbeing advice page.