Bitter Arctic winds have swept across Britain this month, bringing an early winter to millions as temperatures plunged below zero in some regions. This early cold snap coincides with a deepening energy crisis that continues to push households toward breaking point.
The Rising Cost of Keeping Warm
On 1 October, the energy price cap increased by 2%, reaching £1,755 for a typical annual dual-fuel bill across Great Britain. This hike compounds an existing problem of energy debt, which stood at a staggering £4.4 billion in June, according to regulator Ofgem. A coordinator at the End Fuel Poverty Coalition warned this mounting debt should "ring alarm bells" for policymakers.
The Emergence of Community Warm Spaces
Since the cost of living crisis intensified in 2022, the United Kingdom has witnessed the rapid rise of 'warm banks' – community spaces where people can escape freezing homes they cannot afford to heat. Many libraries have continued serving as designated warm spaces throughout the winters of 2023 and 2024. The charity Warm Welcome Spaces reports maintaining a network of over 4,000 warm spaces across the country.
Share Your Story
With warm spaces set to continue operating through the winter of 2024-25, we want to hear from people across the UK. Have you visited, established, or volunteered at a community warm space in recent years? We're interested in learning about your experience, your reasons for getting involved, and how the situation made you feel. What are your thoughts on the proliferation of warm banks in one of the world's wealthiest nations?
You can share your experiences with community warm spaces anonymously if you prefer. All responses are secure, encrypted, and accessible only to the Guardian. We will delete any personal data when it is no longer required for this feature.
