Many churches across the diocese are looking to offer a warm space for those struggling with their heating bills this winter. On this page you will find a range of resources to help you organise your own warm space, to find a warm space in our diocese and stories of churches who are already offering this to their communities.
Useful organisations and resources
- If you are offering a warm space to your community do register it on the Warm Spaces website and the Warm Welcome Space website to ensure your offer is as well publicised as possible.
- Places of Welcome lists places where people can go for a cup of tea and a chat. You can list your warm space on their website and receive guidance on insurance, risk, safeguarding and suggested activities.
- Camerados offers resources to set up or find a Public Living Room in your area.
- Renew Wellbeing helps churches open spaces of welcome and inclusion in partnership with mental health teams to improve mental and emotional wellbeing.
- This informative document from Martin Lewis covers many of the aspects of Setting up a Warm Space.
- Food Safety Guidance for those serving food.
- Heating your church this winter on the Church of England website offers some practical tips and information about financial support.
Accessing funding
If you wish to offer a warm space to your community but are worried about your own rising fuel costs, take a look at our Support and Guidance for Parishes in the Energy Crisis page and download our guide.
Find Warm Spaces in Bath and Wells
Bath Archdeaconry
- St Luke's Church Centre, Wellsway, Bath - Open house on Mondays sfrom 11 am to 3 pm. Soup and roll lunch will be served, as well as tea and coffee. Come along for a chat, games and a children's corner. All are welcome, no charge.
- Holy Trinity Church, Cleeve - Thursdays from 12 noon until 4 pm. Soup and bread will be served along with tea and coffee.
- Churches Together in Clevedon is preparing to offer a 'warm welcome' to those who may have to choose between 'heating and eating' in the coming months. The places of worship will support people with warmth, internet and food in a safe setting.
- Clevedon Baptist Church, Station Road, Clevedon - Mondays from 10am to 4pm. They offer free soup, games, television and internet.
- Kenn Road Methodist Church, Clevedon - Mondays from 10 am to 12 noon. They are providing a community cafe.
- Christchurch, Chapel Hill, Clevedon - Wednesdays from 14 October (to be confirmed).
- St Andrew's Church, Old Church Road, Clevedon - Fridays from 11 am. They offer a range of activities and hot food and drinks.
- Christ Church, Nailsea - 'Come in from the Cold', Thursdays from 12.30 to 2 pm, hot soup is served.
- St Pauls Church, Weston-super-Mare
- St Michael and All Angels, Flax Bourton - Thursdays from 2 to 4 pm. A warm space to chill out, with their Warm Welcome Café.
- Bath Abbey - Tuesdays from 12.30 to 2.30pm. 'The Cosy Place', in the Learning Room, is an inter-generational initiative with a focus on welcoming the elderly, through AGE UK, and students from Bath Spa and Bath Universities. There will be a free lunch of hot soup and a roll, fruit and hot drinks, as well as a range of activities and workshops. The Abbey is also available Monday to Saturday as a 'warm place' to come in and pray.
- Keedwell Church, Long Ashton - Wednesdays from 10 am to 12 noon. A Warm Welcome Cafe.
Taunton Archdeaconry
- Wellington Baptist Church - Thursdays from 9 am to 7 pm. The church hall is open for anyone to use. Find out more about Wellington Baptist Church's refuge initiative here.
- St George's Church, Wilton - Tuesdays from 1.30 to 4 pm and Thursdays from 10 am to 12.30 pm. A warm welcome in a warm space at St George's Church Hall. Cosy cafe with coffee, tea and snacks, friendly faces, games and chat.
Wells Archdeaconry
- St Peter's Church, Yeovil - Mondays to Thursdays from 9.30 am - 3 pm. Free hot lunches served from 12.15 to 1.15pm. Free hot drinks and wifi throughout the day, plus games, puzzles, quiet zone and childrens corner. There's a school uniform and coats rail, for people to help themselves to what they need, and regular advice services from Village Agents, Health Coaches, and the local housing association.
- Street Mission Church, Street - 'We Heat, You Eat', Saturdays from 11am to 3 pm.
Tell us about your Warm Space
If you have a warm space in Bath and Wells, please tell us about it so we can spread the word.
Who to contact
For more information about Warm Spaces, contact Mike Haslam.
For advice about energy conservation in churches, contact Sara Emmett.