With the current cost of living crisis leaving many residents worried about heating their homes throughout the colder months, we’ve began establishing community ‘warm places’ in Wrexham – already existing heated spaces where people are welcome to come to get warm.
We’re starting with our own libraries, where anyone who wants to can come inside to be warm and comfortable. Drop in sessions will also take place on select dates to offer support and advice.
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“Something to help during a very challenging time”
Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Housing and Climate Champion, said: “The cost of living crisis has left many local people worried about staying warm at home and this is only going to worsen as we move towards the winter months. Rising energy prices are putting real pressure on families, so having community warm places in Wrexham is something to help during a very challenging time.
“Initially, the warm places will be our libraries, but we’re hoping to add more community buildings as we progress. Anyone who wants to is very welcome to come inside to be warm and comfortable in a friendly environment. These are very worrying times for many people and we hope the warm places can help to ease some of the pressure our communities are feeling.”
The libraries taking part in warm places are:
• Brynteg Library
• Cefn Mawr Library
• Chirk Library
• Coedpoeth Library
• Gwersyllt Library
• Llay Library
• Overton Library
• Rhos Library
• Ruabon Library
• Wrexham Library
You can find opening times and addresses on the ‘your local library’ page.
Support and advice
People can access support and advice from organisations on select dates at the different libraries across Wrexham. These drop in sessions will take place at the following locations:
• Friday, October 7, 2022 – Wrexham Library, 10am – 2pm
• Friday, October 21, 2022 – Cefn Mawr Library, 10am – 2pm
• Friday, November 4, 2022 – Brynteg Library, 12pm – 3pm
• Friday, November 18, 2022 – Chirk Library, 10am – 2pm
• Friday, December 2, 2022 – Coedpoeth Library, 2pm – 5pm
• Friday, December 16, 2022 – Rhos Library, 11am – 3pm
• Friday, January 6, 2023 – Gwersyllt Library, 2pm – 5pm
• Friday, January 20, 2023 – Ruabon Library, 2pm – 5pm
• Friday, February 3, 2023 – Llay Library, 2pm – 5pm
• Friday, February 17, 2023 – Wrexham Library, 10am – 2pm
Also, Caia Park Partnership are hosting a cost of living event on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, between 10am – 2pm. The event takes place at The Hub, Prince Charles Road, Caia Park, Wrexham LL13 8TH.
Can you offer a warm place?
We want to add more warm places around Wrexham and we’re looking for community and third sector organisations to get involved in the project.
If your organisation has public space with capacity for people to spend time in a comfortable environment and you’d like to support the project, please email decarbonisation@wrexham.gov.uk
Tips to save energy at home
Some steps you can take to reduce the energy you use at home include:
• Replacing traditional lightbulbs with LED ones. LED bulbs use about half the energy of the bigger fluorescent spiral energy-saving bulbs. So, when it’s time to replace your bulbs, consider LED replacements.
• Draught proofing your home. It can be relatively cheap and simple to draught proof your home using materials from a DIY store. You can get rolls of draught-excluding foam tubing for windows. To stop cold air getting in through your front door, consider a draught brush for the letterbox and maybe a cover for the keyhole.
• Filling your washing machine. Making sure you fill up the machine each time you run it will mean you have fewer loads, saving energy.
• Only boiling the amount of water you need. The more water you boil, the more energy you use. Only boil the water you need each time.
• Making sure any devices aren’t left on standby. The Energy Saving Trust says you can save up to £40-a-year saving by switching devices off standby.
• Adjusting your radiator thermostats. If you have them use them, you may not need to heat every room.
• Insulating your hot water cylinder. If you have a hot water cylinder that’s uninsulated, it will be losing heat. This means the water inside cools down faster. Fitting a hot water jacket could save around £40 a year.
• Checking your boiler pressure. This tells you the pressure of the water circulating in the heating system. If this is too slow, it will make your system inefficient and using more energy to heat your home.
Further advice
Council tenants can access support, advice and guidance through the Financial Inclusion Officers based in the local housing estate offices.
Tenants can check they are receiving their full benefit entitlement by using the Entitled To benefits calculator.
The Nest scheme offers free, impartial advice and, if you are eligible, free home efficiency improvements such as a new boiler, central heating, insulation, or solar panels.
GOV.UK’s Help For Households page contains useful information about the types of help and support available.
For more information on other help and advice you may be entitled to, please visit wrexham.gov.uk/warmplaces
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