Warm spaces offered by Shipley churches this winter 

Shipley Christians Together (SCT), a grouping of churches of several denominations in Shipley, Saltaire and Windhill, has launched a joint programme of offering warm spaces until Easter in churches across the district

The full scheme began operating at the start of November and includes a range of daytime meeting points with warm space, hot drinks, lunchtime snacks, games, newspapers, mobile recharging services and people to socialise with.

The church leaders in the area decided to co-operate together and to work with Shipley Town Council and Bradford Metropolitan District Council to offer safe, secure and positive environments for those struggling with heating their own homes.

The Warm Spaces initiative of SCT comes into place alongside the provision of food through the Bradford North Foodbank, who have distribution points at Christchurch, Windhill and Shipley Baptist Church. SCT also operates a Christians Against poverty Debt Advice Centre at Northcliffe Local Ecumenical Partnership.

The Revd Dr Keith Jones, one of the leadership team at Shipley Baptist Church and part of the SCT leadership group, said, 'We are very concerned that people in the Shipley area should be supported with warm spaces, accessible cheap and free food and debt support during this difficult winter.

'Whilst churches are at the forefront of offering these services with love and compassion, we are not restricting the offers in any way. We remain anxious to respond to community need.'

For more information about the specific times and dates, click here, or visit costoflivingbradford.co.uk/warm-spaces

 

Is your church offering a warm welcome space this winter? Do register it at warmwelcome.uk. The website lists more than 2,500 registered organisations that have opened or are opening up free, warm, welcoming spaces for the public over this winter across the UK.

The Warm Welcome Campaign is a community response to the cost of living crisis, initiated by ChurchWorks, alongside a number of key partners such as Christians Against Poverty, Stewardship and Edge Ministries