The Warm Welcome Campaign, an initiative dedicated to enabling a more deeply connected society where we all have free access to welcoming community spaces, is being given a significant boost through a £10,000 award from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

The partnership is announced in Warm Welcome Week (20-26 January), a campaign to raise awareness of Warm Welcome Spaces so more people can find a place of connection and warmth close to home.

Working across the UK to deliver Warm Welcome Spaces, the charity provides 550 hubs across SSEN’s distribution areas in the north of Scotland and central southern England; creating safe, warm and welcoming spaces run by and for the community, which play a vital role in bringing people together and making a positive impact on their lives.

SSEN is one of the first utilities to sign up in partnership with the charity and to support the hubs, which come in various forms, including community centres, libraries, churches, cafes, arts centres, local businesses and schools.

Each one is run by dedicated volunteers with the aim of offering safety, warmth, companionship, and a sense of belonging for all members of the community, especially during the colder, winter months. SSEN’s support includes helping vulnerable communities to access the Priority Services Register, which assists customers during power cuts.

SSEN’s Partnerships and Vulnerability Engagement Manager, Susan Duncan said:

“It’s estimated that running costs for the Warm Welcome Spaces in our north and south distribution areas cost as much as £80,000 throughout the winter season, so we’re delighted that we have been able to partner with this vital charity and support vulnerable communities.

“Inside these spaces, visitors can enjoy cups of tea, community meals, and a wide range of activities suitable for all ages. We're working with the Warm Welcome Campaign to make sure Warm Welcome Space visitors can access information from SSEN’s free services which provide help with energy saving advice, personal resilience and during power cuts.

“We’re proud to partner with the Warm Welcome Campaign and the community spaces they enable; to assist and empower, foster connections and combat loneliness.”

David Barclay, Warm Welcome Campaign Director, added:

“We have already seen huge demand for Warm Welcome Spaces this January, not only supporting people struggling to pay the bills but also playing a vital role in connecting communities and giving people a place of belonging. And this Warm Welcome Week we’re working hard to raise awareness so more people can find a place of connection close to home.

“SSEN’s valuable support will have a far-reaching social impact, helping to boost local awareness and by sharing its expertise and support to vulnerable communities. We are thrilled to work with SSEN. Your generosity is supporting our ambition to make our country full of Warm Welcomes for All.”

SSEN’s contribution of £10,000 will enable SSEN to connect with Warm Welcome Spaces and help vulnerable members of the community find out about and sign up for free services provided by the Distribution Network Operator, such as the Priority Services Register, which helps vulnerable customers during power cuts.

People are eligible to be on the Priority Services Register (PSR) if they are in the following groups:

  • Are aged over 60.
  • Live with children under five.
  • Have a disability.
  • Have a chronic illness.
  • Are deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Are blind or partially-sighted.
  • Use medical equipment or aids which are reliant on electricity.

SSEN produces its Priority Services Register leaflets in 11 different languages, all of which are also available to read and download from its website. 

For more information, please visit ssen.co.uk/priorityservices or call freephone 0800 294 3259 to find out how you, a family member or friend could benefit from free support during a power cut.

You can find your nearest Warm Welcome Space via an online interactive map: https://www.warmwelcome.uk/find-a-space#map