To help those who need it the most during the toughest, and coldest months of the year, the St Vincent de Paul Society has started a Warm Space initiative at Our Lady and St Joseph’s RC church in Matlock, Derbyshire.

During Autumn, in an attempt to combat the Cost of Living Crisis, SVP approached the Parish Priest, Fr Robbie O’Callaghan, about the idea of a warm community hub to help those struggling with spirally food and fuel costs.

St Joseph’s church hall, which is usually used as an overspill area for Easter and Christmas Masses, is an ideal site to open a Warm Space, as it is accessible for everyone, with a canteen, toilets and large open spaces that can be utilised for workshops and events. The new warm space opened on December 5 2022.

Lance Philpott, Head of Membership at the SVP, who is also a member of the St Joseph’s Conference, said:

“We are open all day, 9am until 5pm. We offer a very warm welcome to everyone who has come to use the warmth of the hall. We offer refreshments all day such as tea, coffee, biscuits, cakes, soup, warm bread.”

Alongside offering a warm and welcome place to be, books, magazines and jigsaws are also available together with having numerous toys for children to use and play with. Tables are scattered around the room to encourage people to sit and have a conversation and socialise with one another.

The current crisis not only prevents people from heating their homes, but with electricity bills rising too, charging devices is now becoming a luxury for most. That alongside the prices of food increasing people are turning to help now more than ever before.

“There is enough space for a children’s play area, we have a toilet with children’s facilities, and we have plugs all around the room which people can use,” Lance continues.

“People who are struggling can come and use what we have. We also have a pantry offering food and non-food goods. We have products with a long shelf life and we’ve recognised that people also need products like pet food, cleaning materials and female hygiene products.”

This project was made possible by means of the SVP’s Cost of Living Support Fund and a grant from the local Council. Thanks to this, the project now has enough funding to stay open until March.