Agenda item

The Interim Housing Operations Manager presented to the Board a review of the Warm Hubs, which were agreed by the HRB for winter 2022 as a response to the cost of living crisis.  It also detailed the ongoing support provided through the Community Hubs project during the summer and considered how this could be extended with further Warm Hubs provision through winter 2023/24.  The Warm Hubs project had been successful in tackling social isolation, food poverty, housing warmth, personal development, community cohesion and in relaunching tenant involvement and engagement.  It had clearly made a difference to tenants’ lives and there was overwhelming demand for the service to continue.  The main focus of the Warm Hubs was to meet the needs of tenants by establishing ‘warm banks’.  These were the equivalent of food banks where people who couldn’t afford heating were invited to spend their days, at no cost, in the warm spaces.

Since opening there had been nearly 2500 visits to the Warm Hubs, made by 362 different residents of East Devon, from all types of housing (not just EDDC tenants).  The busiest hub was Broadview in Broadclyst.  Over 1600 hot meals had been provided, including 118 Christmas dinners.  Workshops had been run on budgeting, seated exercise classes, cooking on a budget and craft sessions, alongside games and jigsaws.  Hats, gloves, over 200 blankets and 500 pairs of socks had all been provided.

It was hoped to expand the Warm Hub offering and look into the possibility of a baby bank.  A mapping exercise had been undertaken at the start to identify gaps in existing provision across the district before opening up the Warm Hubs.  These could be altered depending on demand and provision, as well as the possibly providing ‘roaming’ in some of the small isolated communities.

External organisations, as well as a researcher from Exeter University had attended the Broadclyst Warm Hub to understand what made the Warm Hubs work.  The feedback from this was positive.  The most beneficial aspect of the Warm Hubs was the social aspect.  It was suggested that other community groups/village hall committees be invited to see the Warm Hubs in action as best practice.  Seeing the model could be invaluable to other groups looking to set up something similar.

A Housing Emergency Financial Support Fund had been established, with £2018.96 being paid out to date, with most referrals coming from housing officers, for energy payments for sheltered housing tenants.  This indicated that general needs tenants were unaware of the fund and the plan going forward into winter 2023/24 was to alert tenants of potential support available to them.

The Board supported the fabulous initiative and suggested that councillors attend these hubs which offered a great way of engaging with residents.

The Housing Review Board noted and agreed the contents of the report and supported the additional fund of £50,000 to continue the popular project.   The fund would cover the running costs of 10 Warm Hubs, transforming into Community Hubs in the spring, along with financing the Housing Winter Pressures Hardship Fund that would be used to continue financial support to tenants.

RECOMMENDED:  that Cabinet recommend to Council the approval of £50,000 to allocate towards delivering and designating the Warm Hubs project.