Warm and welcome spaces  

Ealing Council and the NHS will be working with local community, voluntary and faith organisations to co-ordinate and promote a 'warm and welcome spaces' programme for autumn and winter 2023 to 2024.  

A 'warm and welcome space' is a place where people can go, keep warm and connect with the local community. Providing a warm and welcome space for residents not only reduces social isolation but will also improve individual’s overall health and wellbeing and support them to address inequalities they may be experiencing because of the rising cost of living.   

Apply for a £1,500 grant

The NHS England Health Inequalities Fund has allocated £60,000 of funding to support organisations to contribute towards either setting up a new warm space or expand an existing service throughout autum and winter. 

One off grants of £1500 are available for organisations located within the borough of Ealing. Grants are not available for organisations who are continuing their existing service throughout the winter. 

The grant could be used to help your organisation to:  

  • increase the use of your space or extend the time the space is open
  • start up a new space or activity
  • contribute towards an increase in utility bills due to opening longer or for energy efficiency measures
  • provide additional refreshments
  • provide activities for the elderly, children, and families over and above those already offered
  • provide activities that support the health and wellbeing of your local community over and above those already offered
  • contribute towards additional volunteer expenses

Conditions of funding: 

All organisations that are provided with funding need to:    

  • Be located within, or host sessions in the London borough of Ealing
  • demonstrate that the funding will contribute to additional costs associated with expanding the service already provided or towards setting up an entirely new space or activity
  • commit to have a space available throughout autumn and winter, ideally from the end of October 2023 to the end of March 2024
  • follow the principles outlined in the warm spaces charter 
  • have the appropriate risk assessments and insurance policies in place to operate safely
  • commit to registering their warm space with both the Warm Welcome scheme and on the council’s Do Something Good Community Support Directory - further information will be provided
  • participate in monitoring and evaluation of your warm space - details to be confirmed
  • have a UK business bank account for funds to be paid into and be able to provide evidence of bank account details by the closing date

 How to apply: 

To apply for the £1,500 grant, complete the online application form.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 6 December 2023. 

All applicants will be contacted the week commencing 11 December 2023.

If you have any questions relating to this grant or application, please email vcsfunding@ealing.gov.uk 

If you do not plan to expand your existing service

There are already a large number of established indoor activities running across the borough which can also provide a warm and welcome space when the weather gets colder.  

If you already run a free service, whether it is a regular coffee morning or a local Scrabble club, but do not plan to expand it over the winter, please still register as a 'warm space' on both the council's Community Support Directory and the National Warm Welcome programme

Doing this is free and helps residents find out about your service.