How on earth can you escape the cold in London, let aside Scotland???

[Possiblynotever]

Just received the map of warm places for those who are struggling with the heating costs. There are four places north of the Thames in London and none in Westminster! What about the libraries? Churches? School halls? Sports centres? London is such a wealthy place it can afford to heat up any poor soul. There is still ice everywhere and people are freezing.
Looking at the map the rest of Great Britain it truly looks grim. But few places are as rich and so selfish as London! It's a scandal!

No one is obliged to provide a warm spot and those that do are shouldering the expense of extra heating etc. it’s a hard time for businesses and not all can afford the larger bills. Warm spots are great but I don’t think we should be sticking the boot into those that, for whatever reason, can’t provide one. Do you have any idea how much it would cost for a church to become warm?

Also I’m missing the relevance of Scotland? Do they not have many?

This is a list of warm banks in London. There are considerably more than appear on that map and considerably more then four North of the river: londonist.com/london/features/warm-banks-spaces-places-havens-london-councils

You could have found this out fairly easily.

Yeah I’m not sure how up to date that is. I’ve just checked for my town and it’s showing none, but there are definitely a few around that I’ve seen advertised locally. Do warm spaces need to register themselves? I imagine that map isn’t showing a lot of them.

Eh? 'London' isn't an actual person OP?!? What on earth are you on about? There's load of things going on - I've just started volunteering with one initiative which will be running after New Year, but it's not on your map there...

We have around 4 places all within a mile!

I go to Wetherspoons to do my uni work. Cheap food, free refills on hot drinks, free heating, free wifi and the staff are lovely. Much nicer than my flat which is currently 10 degrees!!

... And a friend was telling me about her local scheme in Walthamstow which has about 3 just there... Again, not on your map though.

There are nearly 30 council run places in Glasgow.

OP I don’t understand why you’re comparing Scotland to London re lack of warm spaces ?
Plenty available in the smallish city near me(NE Scotland), and 2 in the tiny place I live. Another poster has mentioned 30 council run warm places in Glasgow alone that’s without Church and Voluntary Sector spaces.
Comparing City to a Country is odd too.

It's not a scandal OP, you are talking absolute cobblers.

Oh - by the way, have you opened up your home as a warm space?

What are warm banks??

I've just looked to see how many we have: there are about 15, for a district of over 100k people, spread over more than 100 square miles.

It looked really good, until I checked the opening hours. None are open for more than 2-3 hours on any one day, most are only open 2 mor 3 times a week, and one is only open for 2 hours, one day a week.

Still, I suppose it's better than not having anywhere at all.

I’m in Scotland, there’s been no power, sub-zero temps and yet yesterday the community had a free 3-course lunch for everyone at the community centre.

we don’t need to advertise online because we’re a community who look out for each other.

My local London borough is advertising several warm banks alongside libraries, none of which appear on that map. I think the problem is more with map.

The map came from Which? a usually very reliable source.

Indeed not comparable in terms of cold, I am sure there are plenty of warm places helping freezing elderly people.

Yes I have

I know of several near me in the North of Scotland. I think they tend to promote themselves locally, especially on social media and in posters in local shops, libraries etc.

We haven't got one in our rural community as yet but I know of local people that are in the process of trying to start one. I've already asked them to keep me updated, as I'd be happy to volunteer there a couple of hours a week .

My local church does, in a village in Perthshire. Advertised on the local Facebook page and via word of mouth. Really no need to advertise further.

Our Scottish village/small town has at least one warm space, and usually 2 or more, open six days a week. Free hot food and drinks are provided. In total there are 15 warm spaces open every week.

Our small town has at least three places I know of which aren't included on that map.

The organisers are relying on the locations being reported to them - it would be impossible for them to find them all out individually!

Always check your sources.....

My council sent around an email with much more places than that.

However the majority were pubs and restaurants (most of them not inexpensive). These places may be pleased to bask in the goodwill generated by offering to be warm public spaces, but in reality nobody would feel welcome to go and sit there for hours without spending money. The remaining spaces are libraries, which is fine, but there is nothing new being provided for all the talk.

Not all warm banks (in London and beyond) are on the map.