The cost of living crisis and warm spaces

We’re acutely aware that the cost of living crisis has the potential to significantly impact spinal cord injured people.

Managing a SCI is difficult at the best of times, but as energy costs rise and the recent Autumn Statement starts to affect household incomes, we know there will be many people who are worrying about how to keep warm and manage over the winter period and may face some tough decisions.

There are many local initiatives designed to help people during these unprecedented times, including the introduction of warm spaces. The aim is for the warm space to be a safe place where anyone in need of warmth can go to share with others with no judgement. It may be a community centre, church or library that you are free to visit. Or it could be a coffee shop where people are free to work for the price of a drink, or even times of the week when you are able to stay with no obligation to pay/buy. Everyone has a right to be warm, so everyone in a warm space treats people, and is treated by people, with dignity and respect.

There are several ways of finding out where your local warm space is. Websites like www.warmwelcome.uk and warmspaces.org have details of companies and organisations that have registered as a warm space, and your Local Authority website will explain what support and services they can offer their local residents.

We’re also keen to understand how the cost of living crisis is impacting on our members; if you are happy to share your story please email SIA’s Campaigns Manager, Dave Bracher