With talks from warm space providers and a spoken word performance from Stockport Write Out Loud, the event at the Upper Rooms Café in Cheadle was held to thank the providers of the 122 warm spaces now available across Stockport.
Spanning across all ward areas, warm spaces are welcome for anyone to drop-in and relax. They will be open until March 2023, and many will offer free Wi-Fi, free hot food and drink, and a range of activities.
Stockport Council-owned spaces across the borough are offering warm spaces, as well as a wide range of local organisations who have kindly offered to be part of the scheme.
Speaking at the launch event, Councillor Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “I’d like to thank every one of our warm space providers for their support of this project. The response from local community organisations has been incredible.
“It has been a hugely proactive, fast and collective response to another unprecedented situation for our community: we know there are going to be very many challenges over the next few months, and people are genuinely struggling to make ends meet.
“We’re pleased to have been able to offer grants to many warm spaces through the One Stockport Local Fund, and a number have set up without funding: in both cases, there has been a tremendous amount of commitment and time offered for free. I can’t thank everyone involved enough.
“Stockport’s warm spaces will provide welcoming and friendly environments for all ages this winter. We’ve seen some really creative ideas in activities, from candle making, to talks on African headgear, to tea dances. There really is something for everybody, though no obligation to buy or join anything.”
