At the beginning of September, Cambridgeshire ACRE kicked off its Warm Hubs in Winter initiative by putting a call out to local communities to express an interest in hosting a Warm Hub.
“We hoped to find 10 communities willing to host a Warm Hub but feared this might be a bit ambitious, but how wrong we were,” said a spokesperson.
“We received over 70 expressions of interest (and still counting) from community groups, village halls, church groups and parish councils who wanted to take part.
Thanks to funding from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System’s South Place Partnership, passed on via East and South Cambridgeshire District Councils, they have since been able to set up 38 affiliated Warm Hubs.
Warm Hubs are simply warm, safe community buildings open for a few hours each week to provide people with a place to go to stay warm and to meet others.
Over 160 volunteers have now been trained directly by the Cambridgeshire ACRE team, with these volunteers then passing on their learning to others.
The majority of Warm Hubs have now opened their doors, with a few more due to open for the first time in the early weeks of December.
The spokesperson said: “Two press launch events – one each for East Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire – were held at the end of November, attended by the leaders of their respective district councils.
“Both attracted a huge amount of attention, including a feature on BBC Look East and extensive local press and radio coverage. We have even received a request to feature our story from a newspaper in Japan.”
The spokesperson added: “Warm Hubs are just sending in their full reports on activity during November to Cambridgeshire ACRE but we now know that well over 1,000 people have used the affiliated Warm Hubs since they opened.
“People are attending not only to stay warm but to find company. Many have expressed feelings of loneliness and not having enough human contact – one lady told us that she had not spoken to a single person for two weeks.
“Others are looking for help with navigating the complex support systems out there.”
Run within existing community spaces, local residents can visit a safe, warm, and friendly environment to enjoy refreshments and social activity, obtain information and advice, and share the company of others.
The full list of Hubs can be found at: https://www.cambsacre.org.uk/what-we-do-cambridgeshire-acre/warm-hubs/
But if you don’s fancy downloading, here’s locations and opening times for the network of Warm Hubs in East and South Cambridgeshire here:
East Cambridgeshire
- Ashley Warm Hub
- Venue: Ashley Pavilion, High Street, Ashley, Newmarket, CB8 9DX
Opening times: Thursday, 12.30pm – 3.30pm (alternate weeks starting 24-Nov-2022)
Notes: –
- Burrough Green Warm Hub
- Venue: Burrough Green Reading Room, Bradley Road, Burrough Green, Newmarket, CB8 9NH
Opening times: Thursday, 3.30pm – 5pm and Friday, 9.30am – 11.30am
Notes: –
- Burwell Warm Hub
- Venue: Burwell Day Centre, Ash Grove, Parsonage Close, Burwell, Cambridge, CB25 0EN
Opening times: Monday – Friday, 9am – 3pm
Notes: –
- Ely Warm Hub
- Venue: Ely Methodist Church, 13 – 15 Chapel Street, Ely, CB6 1AD
Opening times: Sunday, 1pm – 4pm
Notes: Please note that this Warm Hub will be closed on Christmas Day (Sun 25-Dec).
- Fordham Warm Hub
- Venue: Victoria Hall, Carter Street, Fordham, Ely, CB7 5NG
Opening times: Monday, 9.30am – 12.30pm, Wednesday, 9.30am – 12.30pm
Notes: The Warm Hub will open on Boxing Day (Mon 26-Dec) and on Wed 28-Dec with slightly amended hours, 10.30am – 1.30pm.
- Haddenham & Wilburton Warm Hub
- Venue: Haddenham Sports and Social Club, Chewells Lane, Haddenham, Ely, CB6 3SS
Opening times: Monday – Friday, 9am – 3pm
Notes: –
- Little Downham Warm Hub
- Venue: Little Downham Village Hall, Main Street, Little Downham, Ely, CB6 2ST
Opening times: Wednesday, 1pm – 4pm and Friday, 10am – 12pm
Notes: –
- Little Thetford Warm Hub
- Venue: Little Thetford Village Hall, The Wyches, Little Thetford, Ely, CB6 3HG
Opening times: Monday, 10am – 1pm, Thursday, 10am – 1pm
Notes: –
- Littleport Warm Hub
- Venue: St George’s Church Parish Room, Church Lane, Littleport, Ely, CB6 1PS
Opening times: Wednesday, 2pm – 4pm, Friday, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Notes: –
- Mepal Warm Hub
- Venue: Mepal Village Hall, School Lane, Mepal, Ely, CB6 2AU
Opening times: Monday, 10am – 1pm
Notes: –
- Soham Warm Hub
- Venue: Walter Gidney Pavilion, Fountain Lane, Soham, Ely, CB7 5PL
Opening times: Tuesday, 12pm – 3pm
Notes: –
- Stetchworth Warm Hub
- Venue: Ellesmere Centre, Ley Road, Stetchworth, Newmarket, CB8 9TS
Opening times: Monday, 9am – 12pm, Wednesday, 9am – 12pm
Notes: –
- Sutton Warm Hub
- Venue: The Brunel Room within The Glebe, 4 High Street, Sutton, Ely, CB6 2RB
Opening times: Wednesday, 9am – 12pm
Notes: –
South Cambridgeshire
- Bar Hill Warm Hub
- Venue: Community Room, Tesco Extra Bar Hill, Viking Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB23 8EL
Opening times: Coming soon
Notes: Opening date to be confirmed
- Caldecote Warm Hub
- Venue: Caldecote Pavilion, Furlong Way, Highfields, Caldecote, Cambridge, CB23 7ZH
Opening times: Tuesday, 9.30am – 12.30pm, Thursday, 12pm – 3pm
Notes: –
- Cambourne Warm Hub
- Venue: Cambourne Church, Jeavons Lane, Great Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6AF
Opening times: Monday – Friday, 9.30am – 1pm
Notes: –
- Comberton Warm Hub
- Venue: Comberton Baptist Church, Green End, Comberton, Cambridge, CB23 7DY
Opening times: Monday, 3.30pm – 6.30pm, Thursday, 10.30am – 1.30pm
Notes: Please note that this Warm Hub will be closed on Boxing Day (Mon 26-Dec-2022).
- Cottenham Warm Hubs
- Venue: Cottenham Community Centre, 250a High Street, Cottenham, Cambridge, CB24 8RZ
Opening Times: Friday, 3pm – 6pm
Notes: –and
Venue: Cottenham Village Hall, Lambs Lane, Cottenham, Cambridge, CB24 8TA
Opening times: Monday, 10am – 1pm
Notes: –
- Gamlingay Warm Hub
- Venue: Gamlingay Eco Hub Community Centre, Stocks Lane, Gamlingay, Sandy, SG19 3JR
Opening times: Wednesday, 2pm – 4pm; Thursday 10am – 12pm; Friday 10.30am – 12.30pm; and Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Notes: –
- Grantchester Warm Hub
- Venue: Grantchester Communal Hall, Tabrum Close, Grantchester, Cambridge, CB3 9NW
Opening times: Friday, 10am – 12pm
Notes: –
- Great Shelford Warm Hub
- Venue: Great Shelford Free Church, Ashen Green, Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22 5EY
Opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am – 4pm
Notes: –
and
Venue: Great Shelford Memorial Hall, Woollards Lane, Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22 5LZ
Opening times: Wednesday, 9am – 3pm
Notes: –
- Hardwick Warm Hub
- Venue: Hardwick Evangelical Church, Broadway House, 149 – 151 St Neots Road, Hardwick, Cambridge, CB23 7QJ
Opening times: Tuesday, 11am – 2pm
Notes: –
- Horningsea Warm Hub
- Venue: Horningsea Pavilion, King’s Farm, High Street, Horningsea, Cambridge, CB25 9JG
Opening times: Tuesday, 10.30am – 12pm
Notes: Opens for first time on Tuesday 13 December 2022
- Landbeach Warm Hub
- Venue: All Saints Church, Green End, Landbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9FD
Opening times: Wednesday, 11.30am – 4.30pm
Notes: Open for the first time on Wednesday 14 December 2022
- Linton Warm Hubs
- Venue: Linton Free Church Hall, Horn Lane, Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4JF
Opening times: Tuesday, 1pm – 4pm
Notes: Open for first time on Tuesday 6 December 2022and
Venue: St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4JX
Opening times: Thursday, 11am – 2pm
Notes: –
- Melbourn Warm Hub
- Venue: Melbourn Communal Building, Vicarage Close, Melbourn, Royston, SG8 6DY
Opening times: Coming soon
Notes: Opening date to be confirmed
- Meldreth Warm Hub
- Venue: Meldreth Sheltered Housing Building, Elin Way, Meldreth, Royston, SG8 6LX
Opening times: Tuesday and Thursday, 12pm – 3pm
Notes: –
- Milton Warm Hub
- Venue: All Saints Church Hall, Church Lane, Milton, Cambridge, CB24 6AB
Opening times: Tuesday, 10am – 4pm
Notes: Opens for first time on Tuesday 6 December 2022
- Northstowe Warm Hub
- Venue: Northstowe Secondary College, Stirling Road, Northstowe, Cambridge, CB24 1DJ
Opening times: Coming soon
Notes: Opening date to be confirmed
- Orchard Park Warm Hub
- Venue: Orchard Park Community Centre, Central Avenue, Orchard Park, Cambridge, CB4 2EZ
Opening times: Monday, 4pm – 7pm and Thursday, 3.30pm – 6.30pm
Notes: –
- Over Warm Hub
- Venue: Over Community Centre, 16 The Doles, Over, Cambridge, CB24 5NW
Opening times: Monday – Friday, 10am – 12pm
Notes: –
- Rampton Warm Hub
- Venue: Rampton Village Hall, 4 Church End, Rampton, Cambridge, CB24 8QA
Opening times: Wednesday, 1pm – 3.30pm or Thursday, 10am – 12.30pm (Alternate weeks)
Notes: –
- Sawston Warm Hub
- Venue: Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church Hall, 135 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3HJ
Opening times: Monday and Friday, 12.30pm – 4.30pm
Notes: –
- Weston Colville Warm Hub
- Venue: Weston Colville Reading Room, Chapel Road, Weston Colville, Cambridge, CB21 5NX
Opening times: Monday – Friday, 11am – 5pm
Notes: –
- Willingham Warm Hubs
- Venue: The Octagon, St Mary and All Saints Church, Church Street, Willingham, Cambridge, CB24 5HS
Opening times: Monday, 10am – 1pm
Notes: This Warm Hub will not open on Boxing Day (26-Dec-2022) or Bank Holiday Monday (2-Jan-2023).and
Venue: Willingham Baptist Church, George Street, Willingham, Cambridge, CB24 5LJ
Opening times: Wednesday, 10am – 4pm
Notes: –
Affiliated Warm Hubs in East and South Cambridgeshire’s Libraries and Child & Family Centres
Cambridgeshire’s libraries offer alternative warm spaces for people to visit, particularly on days when their community-run Warm Hubs aren’t open.
All libraries offer free use of Wi-Fi and library computers, social activities and, of course, books to sit and read.
Everyone is welcome. You can download a list of the libraries affiliated to the Warm Hubs Cambridgeshire network, including their address details and opening times, by clicking on the button below.
Cambridgeshire’s Child and Family Centres offer more alternative warm spaces for families (with children aged 0 – 19) to visit when their community-run Warm Hubs aren’t open. Families are welcome to attend to be warm, have a hot drink, play with the toys and meet others.
You can download a list of the Child & Family Centres affiliated to the Warm Hubs Cambridgeshire network, including their address details and opening times, by clicking on the button below.
Download list of Child & Family Centres
FACT FILE
Cambridgeshire ACRE is an independent organisation, a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
Their vision is to have thriving rural communities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. They strive for positive change and work with others to improve the lives of those living and working in rural communities.
Cambridgeshire ACRE says its approach is supported by the expertise of our staff, plus the advice from their team is delivered by experts in their fields and not influenced by any other body.
Find out more about ACRE and their team and board.
