Making Warm Welcomes Together in Gateshead

When Warm Spaces first emerged in the winter of 2022-23, Gateshead was one of the earliest and strongest local networks to develop. Led by Gateshead Council and the local Citizens Advice, groups were supported with training and funding, and brought together to share learning and spread good practice.

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So it was entirely appropriate for Warm Welcome Director David Barclay to visit Gateshead recently to speak at an event for the 94-strong Warm Space network there and to cement a long-term partnership between the national Warm Welcome Campaign and Gateshead Council.

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The event, held at the Gateshead Civic Centre on 11 September 2024, included the launch of ground-breaking research conducted by the Health Determinants Research Collaboration into Warm Spaces and their impact. The findings echoed the result of Warm Welcome’s national impact evaluation in uncovering the deep positive impact that Warm Spaces are having, with one participant commenting that the Space “gives me a reason to get out of bed” and another simply saying “well, this place is a lifeline for me”.

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But the research also raised some important and thought-provoking questions for all involved in Warm Welcome. It identified three main categories of people using Warm Spaces – those in poverty who weren’t looking for social connection, those experiencing poverty who also wanted social connection, and those not experiencing poverty who used the Spaces exclusively for social reasons. And the research showed that for some Spaces, serving these different groups could create tensions, such as the potential for stigma to develop against particular people or groups.

The research also raised the challenge of awareness and communications, and how Spaces can work together and with partners to better spread the word about what is available and who it is for. On this point, it was great to confirm that Gateshead Council have agreed to co-brand the network with Warm Welcome from this winter, creating a joined-up identity between the local and national networks. This will help all parties pull in the same direction in communicating about Spaces, and is a model we are hoping will become a template for many other local Warm Space networks and Councils.

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The other very welcome announcement was the launch of a new small grants programme of £50,000 from Gateshead Council to enable local groups to innovate and collaborate more effectively this winter. With the recent government decision to extend the Household Support Fund which operates through Local Authorities, Warm Welcome is calling on all Councils to consider establishing this kind of funding scheme for Warm Welcome Spaces this winter. We know that these Spaces can turn a small amount of money into a huge amount of positive impact, as well as creating vibrant networks of social and practical support for people at highest risk this winter.

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We can’t wait to see how Gateshead Warm Welcome develops this winter and beyond!

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