A raft of warm banks are to open in Glasgow next week to help people struggling to heat their homes.
Dozens of venues will be opening their doors as 'Welcome Spaces' amid the cost of living crisis with the first locations set to open next week.
Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, and the voluntary sector are working together to open up the spaces to the public as well as staffing them to ensure those in need have somewhere to go.
Read more: Glasgow plea for extra taxi funding as LEZ roll out dates confirmed
The 'Welcoming Spaces' will also provide welfare advice, food, and drink. WiFi and PC access will be available at libraries.
We previously reported how the warm banks will be designed around “social activities” to reduce “the stigma associated with poverty”.
Ruairi Kelly, city convener of neighbourhood services, said: “The Welcome Places programme will be an evolving situation to meet the needs of our citizens and will be part of a range of measures that we are looking at.
“With Welcome Places, we want to offer alternative solutions and a place for people to feel secure, warm, with company, and with a friendly face available to help as well as the chance to find out about other support being delivered, in some cases, by the third sector in our city.”
The venues across the city to start opening from Monday, October 17:
Bridgeton Library
Barlanark Community Centre
Barmulloch Residents Centre
Bridgeton Library
Castlemilk Community Centre
Drumchapel Library
Easterhouse Library @ The Bridge
Finns Place
Govanhill Community Centre
Kingsway Community Connections
Milton Library
Mitchell Library
Partick Library
Penilee Community Centre
Pollokshaws Library
Ruchill Golf Pavilion
Shettleston Library
Woodside Library
Yoker Community Campus
Opening from October 31:
Cranhill Community Centre
Netherton Community Centre
Pollok Community Centre
Possilpoint Community Centre
St Francis Centre
Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Our facilities have been welcoming our citizens for many years, so it seemed the most sensible thing to extend this welcome further to people in need this winter.
“During scheduled opening hours no one will be asked to leave our buildings.
“By working with voluntary sector partners, support will be on hand to offer advice and guidance if it is wanted.
“We don’t know what the impact is going to be - but what we do know is that everyone is bound to be touched by the cost-of-living or fuel crisis - that is a fact.”
READ NEXT -
Rutherglen fire seen for miles around as video captures blaze crews are still tackling
Destroyed vintage car torched and abandoned slapped with warning notice - despite having no wheels
Boy, 12, seriously injured by car in Paisley as man charged with attempted murder
Paisley carer who stole patient's bank cards and went shopping struck off
Glasgow woman assaulted member of staff with handbag at Partick nursery
