A church is to throw open its doors and become a “heating hub” for locals who can’t pay energy bills.
From next month – when typical household energy bills are set to rise by 80 per cent to £3459 – St Margaret’s Church in Orkney says residents can spend the day at their community facility if they can’t heat their homes.
In a Facebook invitation, the Kirk said: “Anyone in South Ronaldsay and Burray (children must be accompanied) will be welcome to switch off home heating (saving up to 50p an hour for every 1kW heater) and come to the church to chat, study, knit, drink coffee etc … for the whole day if you like.
“No need to have any existing connection with the church – we’re happy to help anyone who needs it.” It said the “heating hub” would be there for people regardless of age or religious belief.
The gesture drew widespread praise online – a “fantastic response to a desperate situation” said one Facebook user. The initiative also received praise from Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael.
He said: “Right now people are desperate to know that someone is on their side and will help them through the winter months. Seeing a church congregation step up to do what they can will offer a little bit of hope to a lot of people.
“Of course initiatives like this are not going to be the whole answer. We need the Government to take the lead. People are scared about what the next few months might bring and they want to know that they will not just be left to sink or swim.
“We can be proud of groups like South Ronaldsay and Burray Church and the thousands of people in food banks and community groups who are doing their bit to help their neighbours. It remains a stain on our country’s conscience that they have to.”
The typical household energy bill is set to rise by about 80 per cent after energy regulator Ofgem announced on Friday that the energy price cap was to rise to £3459 from October.
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