Warm banks are beginning to open across Lincolnshire and Newark
As people face high energy bills, fears of deciding between heating an eating is growing
As we head into winter, warm banks and soup kitchens are beginning to open across Lincolnshire and Newark. High energy bills means families won't be able to afford to turn their heating on. Charities ad community groups are working together to offer spaces where people can go to sit, eat and get warm.
The Lighthouse Project at the Methodist Church in Louth is one of these warm banks, offering free lunch of soup or even lasagne, and opening Wednesday and Fridays for those in the community to eat and enjoy the warmth.
This is part of its warm space initiative that has been set up, specifically with extended hours, to offer this service.
Mark Harrison is the Co Ordinator of the Project which runs alongside a food bank, baby bank and many other schemes:
"We're now involved in this warm, safe, space; I've added safe because it needs to be safe for people because we're dealing with lots of people with different issues and different vulnerabilities. We're going to open our extended hours, so people can come in and save on their fuel, but also meet other people."
He also added that the warm bank allows people to come together with active programmes like crafting and board games, he says it's a difficult time for people:
"The issue I find is that people have been neglected, people are left behid. The work situation in Louth is a lot of people are on minimal wage or the living wage, so even those that are working, are struggling."
The service is expected to continue to foreseeable future, while other churches nearby are opening similar spaces, such as the Generations Church. It is expected more groups will begin to offer this across the county.