Yorkshire Housing has teamed up with Ryedale District Council to open its first warm bank.
Working alongside the council, Next Steps, and Carers Plus Yorkshire, the landlord has opened five of its community centres in North Yorkshire to local people for the duration of the winter.
Other warm spaces across the Ryedale District have also been set up by local business, the council, and charities.
Sessions at community centres are being run by Yorkshire Housing colleagues, community partners, and customers.
Last month, Yorkshire Housing launched its #HelpOut campaign in a bid to raise awareness of where people can go for help with things like paying bills, the cost of food, budgeting, finding work, and mental health support.
‘Important to help out’
Charlotte Woollard, community independence manager, said: “Sadly, we know that a lot of people are really worried about how they’re going to heat their homes and keep warm this winter.
“That’s why we’re opening up our community centres so people have somewhere they can go to keep warm, enjoy some refreshments, and company.
“Volunteers will also be on hand to signpost people to other support services so that people can get the help they need.
“Yorkshire Housing are not just a housing provider – we’re part of the community, and it’s really important to us that we do our bit to help out.”
Yorkshire Housing says it will be opening more ‘warm spaces’ in other parts of Yorkshire over the next few weeks.
More housing associations have been opening warm spaces this year, as the costs of heating homes continues to rise.
Earlier this month, social landlord Ongo said it would open up The Arc in Westcliff, Scunthorpe, as a warm bank for the local community.
Image: Daniel Jedzura/Shutterstock
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