In August 2022, as news of energy price hikes were announced, we put a call out to community buildings, churches, pubs, cafes and libraries in Suffolk to ask if they would consider offering a Warm Space to their local residents during the winter months.
We mapped every space that we could find in Suffolk (over 300 across the county by the time winter arrived) on our Rural Coffee Caravan website map, to create an interactive resource where people could easily locate their nearest place to share warmth, a free cuppa, and often a free or discounted meal, through the coldest months. Somewhere to use the facilities without having to worry about the bill, to access signposting information for support where needed, and crucially, to be socially connected for a few hours on a regular basis.