Growing number of community spaces support 3.5 million Britons who are lonely, cold or in crisis 

‍

• Warm Welcome Spaces supported approximately 3.5 million visitors last year (up from 2.6 million in 2024/25).
• 19% growth in the number of Warm Welcome Spaces, rising from 5,300 in 2025 to 6,400 today.
• On average, 72% of the UK lives within a 30-minute walk from a Warm Welcome Space. 
• 88% of people who have accessed a Warm Space would recommend it to someone they know.
• Almost a quarter of Warm Welcome Spaces reported facing difficulties paying for energy and utility bills in the past year.

‍

New data released by the Warm Welcome Campaign shows a 19% rise in the number of community spaces supporting people struggling with loneliness, mental health, and the cost-of-living. Last year (2025/2026), the network of nearly 6,400 Warm Welcome Spaces supported around 3.5 million visitors, up from 2.6 million in the previous year. The growth means that on average, 72% of the UK now lives within a 30-minute walk from a Warm Welcome Space. 

‍

The Warm Welcome Campaign, who resource, champion and connect the UK network of Warm Welcome Spaces, gathered the data from a survey of spaces and omnibus polling carried out by Walnut Unlimited.

‍

The rapid growth of the Warm Welcome Campaign since 2022 has increased awareness of Warm Welcome Spaces. Almost three quarters of Warm Welcome Spaces (73%) reported that being part of the Warm Welcome Campaign increased the awareness of their organisation. Today, 70% of the UK population are aware of warm spaces, and 50% of this group say they have visited a space in the past. 88% of those who have visited a space say they would recommend it to a friend.

‍

The data also revealed that a quarter of Warm Welcome Spaces say the biggest challenges they face in serving their communities are supporting guests with complex needs, and almost a quarter of spaces (23%) reported facing difficulties paying for energy and utility bills in the past year.

‍

Warm Welcome Spaces also have a profound effect on loneliness, mental health, and poverty and are a lifeline to communities, especially in the winter months, and many double up as cool spaces during heatwaves, offering a safe haven to those struggling to keep cool.

‍

David Barclay, Warm Welcome Campaign Director, said:

“Since we launched the Warm Welcome Campaign four years ago, during the worst cost of living crisis in 70 years, our growing network of community spaces has helped revive communities and given millions of people renewed hope. The rapid growth of Warm Welcome Spaces is a good news story to be celebrated, but their existence is under threat, with most relying on short-term crisis funding. These spaces have become an essential part of our community infrastructure, supporting around 3.5 million people. It’s heartening that nearly three-quarters of those living in the UK have a Warm Welcome Space close to home.” 

‍

“Many of the people they serve are lonely, in crisis, or struggling to pay the bills. And Warm Welcome Spaces tell us that their biggest challenge is supporting growing numbers of people with complex needs, alongside paying for their own energy bills and running costs so they can keep their doors open.” 

‍

Warm Welcome survey findings:

• Almost nine in 10 Warm Welcome Spaces (89%) are open throughout the year.
  
• One in four spaces (24%) advertise themselves as a ‘Cool Space’ in the summer, as well as offer a ‘Warm Space’ in the winter.
• Nearly all Warm Welcome Spaces offer a social space (98%), with 93% offering food and drink to guests
• Seven in 10 spaces (71%) provide advice and signposting to their guests, and 32% offer guests energy efficiency and safety advice.
• 52% of Warm Welcome Spaces say they are worried about the impact of the current rising energy crisis in the coming winter. (Of this number, 21.5% are very worried and 30.5% are moderately worried about rising energy costs.)
  
• Two in five spaces (41%) said they need further support accessing funding. Linked to this, a further 1 in 10 spaces (9%) felt specific support around meeting their energy costs would be useful.

UK-wide omnibus polling gathered by Walnut Unlimited for the Warm Welcome Campaign revealed the positive impact that warm spaces have on people’s lives:

• 70% of UK citizens are aware of the concept of Warm Spaces in their community (up from 57% last year).
  
• 50% of those aware of Warm Spaces have visited one in the past.
  
• 88% would recommend a Warm Space to someone they know.
  
• The most common reasons for visiting a warm space are to socialise (56%), to support their mental health or emotional well-being (36%), to protect their physical health (32%), to access practical support or services (30%), and to save money on heating (24%).

‍

David Barclay, Warm Welcome Campaign Director, added:

“We’re worried about the coming winter, a time of year when Warm Welcome Spaces are in greatest demand. The economic impact of war, alongside rising fuel and food costs, will have a double-whammy impact on both Warm Welcome Spaces and households. It will mean more demand from guests struggling to keep warm and pay their bills, but also the costs of running these community spaces will soar.” 

‍

“We urgently need the government to develop a more strategic approach to supporting community spaces across the UK, including using Warm Homes Fund money to install green technology, which will permanently reduce the running costs of Warm Welcome Spaces. Without it, these community spaces may be forced to close their doors when they are needed most.”

‍

You can find your nearest Warm Welcome Spaces via an online interactive map: https://www.warmwelcome.uk/find-a-space

‍