Suffolk Libraries is expecting higher demand for warm rooms as we head into the colder months

Warm rooms are again available throughout Suffolk.

Chantry Library has hosted essential food and item exchanges to help people with the rising costs of living.
Author: Jasmine OakPublished 9th Oct 2023

As the weather begins to get colder, warm rooms are again available throughout Suffolk.

Warm Welcomes provide a safe, warm and welcoming space where members of the community can come to meet with others and access information about additional support available in the community.

Krystal Vittles from Suffolk Libraries told us how warm rooms can help those struggling with the cost of living crisis.

"People are struggling to afford fuel and to heat their homes. And what we're saying to people is come along to us for the day. "You don't have to heat your home. You can be somewhere where you can keep warm and not have to worry about your metre ticking up - and we wanted to be part of that."

Not only this but Krystal explained their is no pressure to buy anything. "yes, you could go to a cafe and you could spend a couple of hours in there, but the expectation is you're having to buy something."

She said that pressure, or the feeling of being "rushed" doesn't exist at their warm rooms.

There is no shame in using a warm room

Krystal went on to tell us people shouldn't feel embarrassed about using a warm room, everyone has been affected by the cost of living crisis and we're in a time where we need communities to come together and help each other.

She also told us that because Suffolk Libraries are used for a variety of different reasons, no one knows why you're there.

"You can come to us for any reason and people don't know the reason you're walking in.

"So if you are walking in because you don't or you can't afford to heat your home for the day, there's no stigma attached to that. You can just be with us and nobody has to know that."

Julia Wakelam, West Suffolk councillor, enjoying a warm drink with library staff and patrons at Bury St Edmunds Library.

What else is available?

Krystal told us there is more to warm rooms than simply having a place to go. They offer free warm drinks and have introduced "kindness Racks"

Which allows people to bring in clothes to donate for others to take as needed.

Suffolk Libraries has also improved its "pride and period" project, working with the hygiene banks so people can just take what they need to help them through.

A Kindness Rack at Newmarket Library full of good-quality donated items. Anyone can collect warm clothes for free, no questions asked.

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