Fenland community hub gives woman 'a new life' amid cold snap
The Living Room Space has been running for three years
A woman who lost both her son and husband believes a community hub in the Fens is not just important during severe weather, but all year round.
The FACT (Fenland Association for Community Transport) Living Room Space in March is one of 13 places in Fenland listed by the Cambridgeshire ACRE charity where people can turn up and socialise each week.
Cambridgeshire ACRE has been running a community hub network across the county since the autumn of 2022 to help the most vulnerable residents, such as those unable to afford heating in their homes.
As I turn up to the Space on a freezing afternoon, I'm greeted by around 12 or so people who use the service on a regular basis, one of those being Sheila from Manea.
She lost her husband and son, and has been coming to the Space - which acted as a befriending service before joining up with Cambridgeshire ACRE - for three years.
'A new life'
"This is wonderful; because I've been out on the (FACT) bus, I thought I might join one of the clubs and have never looked back," Sheila said.
"It gives me a new life."
Asked what she would do without the Space, Sheila said "nothing, just sit indoors, doing housework.
"This is a collection of friends that you can bring anything to the table and they listen to you."
Warm hubs were first established in September 2022 in response to cost of living pressures, which led to concerns that residents would struggle over the winter months to afford other essentials, such as food, as well as heating.
'Company' key for Don
Don Bradshaw's the eldest member of the FACT Living Room Space, aged 95, and has been attending for around two years.
He's someone who makes others in the room laugh, describing himself as "the village idiot, but has also helped maintain the charity's garden.
"It's company; I've never been under so many thumbs in my life!"
Don lost his wife of almost 70 years and, as well as telling jokes, he's keen to get involved in the different activities that take place for the group, including bingo and a general knowledge quiz.
"I find the hardest work to be thinking for myself," he added.
"When you get home and shut that door, you're in there on your own and it (the FACT Living Room) gives you something to look forward to.
"You go home and you feel on top of the world."
Snow warning
A yellow warning for snow and ice was extended by the Met Office until today for Cambridgeshire, with an amber cold health alert for the East of England in place until Sunday.
People are being advised is to plan extra time for your journey, use main roads if you’re walking or cycling, and be prepared for minor travel delays.
It comes as the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough - brought by heavy winds from Storm Goretti - from 6pm on Thursday to midday on Friday.
The Met Office said some areas could see 5-10cm of snow settle, while others could see as much as 20cm.