County, District and City Cllr Sarah Sharp (Green, Chichester South) is working with the Chichester Community Network to coordinate a selection of ‘Warm Spaces’ available to residents in need this winter.
Among others, Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) is throwing open its doors Monday to Saturday from 10am til late, offering co-working desks, free WiFi, beanbags, books and toys, and a warm welcome to all in the community.
CFT said: “Knowing the challenges that will be faced by many in our community over the coming Winter months, Chichester Festival Theatre is very happy to be offering our foyer as a Warm Space.”
Other spaces include churches and libraries, for example, Chichester Library on Tower Street, where advice, support and internet access are also available as well as free activities – such as Rhyme time, Story Time, Knit and Natter.
Revd Martha Weatherill, Rural Dean of Chichester said: “Churches in Chichester and the surrounding area are working in partnership with Chichester Churches Together to ensure that there are enough warm spaces for people to come together in the colder months. Churches across Chichester will be able to continue to offer hot food and activities and provide a much-needed service thereby making a big difference to people's lives.”
Cllr Sharp expressed disappointment that the Chichester Community Network had to lead on this rather than local and national government but was delighted that such an extraordinary group of volunteers and organisations were pulling together to help vulnerable residents this winter.
She said: “Like many other parts of the country, people in and around Chichester are already relying on foodbanks and now have to face the cold this winter. The government are responsible for this cost of living crisis but it’s local people who are dealing with the fallout. There are some really good models of partnership working for example between Hunston Parish Council, the Church in Hunston and the community group that run the village hall and I think we can be really proud of these examples where the community is pulling together to counter social isolation as well as offering a warm welcome.”