Supporting residents during the winter months
Date Added: 15/12/2023
Libraries and leisure centres available as Warm Spaces
For the second year in a row, Central Bedfordshire Council's (CBC) libraries and leisure centres will be available Warm Spaces during the winter. Residents can use these spaces during the day to keep warm as temperatures fall and as gas and electricity costs are set to rise.
Four of CBC's six leisure centres have cafes available for people to use, and libraries offer free Wi-Fi and access to public computers, as well as seating so people can enjoy time with a book. Residents are welcome to take their own food and drink to our libraries. More information is available at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/warm-spaces
Dedicated cost of living information can be found at the hub on CBC's website, which is full of information and resources that can help anyone concerned about the cost of living. For more information visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living
Help for rough sleepers during extreme weather
When reports of someone sleeping rough are recieved, CBC's Housing team works hard to get them off the streets. Noah Enterprise, the street outreach provider, will engage the rough-sleeper, and encourage and support them to refer themselves to CBC's Homeless Interventions team. Wherever possible, transitional accommodation to people that Noah have verified as a rough sleeper is offered.
As we head into winter, and temperatures are dropping. When the temperature is forecast to drop to 0° (zero degrees) Celsius (or below) for three or more nights, CBC activate its severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP). In extreme weather, people sleeping rough are at particular risk of serious harm or death.
CBC work with local homelessness services to decide when to activate the protocol, to protect rough sleepers from serious harm. During extreme cold, wind and rain, they can provide temporary night-time shelter (either directly, or through a partner) for people sleeping rough, for as long as it's needed. CBC also share messaging on social media to let residents know about SWEP and how they can help if they know of anyone sleeping rough.
If you know of someone sleeping rough, the best thing to do is report it via Streetlink, which is a vital service to enable members of the public to connect people sleeping rough in England and Wales to local support that meets their needs. Streetlink used to be an app, but has relaunched and is available on the Streetlink website. There is more information about SWEP and how we can support rough sleepers on CBC's website.