As villagers come together to help others in need, volunteers believe their Warm Hub is starting to step up.
Babies, older children and their parents have been attending the Little Downham Warm Hub, whether that is to stay warm, socialise or take part in activities they otherwise might not do.
“People stay for a while, have a cup of tea, homemade cake, children do some colouring and have a good old natter,” said Avril Hayter-Smith, manager of the Little Downham Warm Hub.
“It’s a warm place for people to come and people who are feeling isolated at home.”
One of the big problems is getting people to know we're here
The Warm Hub, at Little Downham Village Hall, is an extension to the existing book café and can hold a maximum of around 28 people at one time.
But since the Hub launched in November, Ms Hayter-Smith, a former Ely town crier, and 16 volunteers have found it difficult to spread awareness.
“One of the big problems is getting people to know we are here and what we offer; not everyone has Facebook where we advertise, or the parish magazine,” she said.
“A lot of it is about word of mouth and we don’t know the people [who are] vulnerable unless they come to our facility.”
It is not just hot drinks and words of wisdom that greet visitors to the Warm Hub.
Books written by children’s author Peter Crussell, of Little Downham, are being donated while village historian and Hub volunteer Robin Pearl is also on hand to help visitors find out more about their ancestors.
The volunteers are doing an amazing job
Funding for East Cambridgeshire’s Warm Hubs is due to expire in March next year, but Ms Hayter-Smith believes progress will continue in 2023.
“We have had some new people come along, not just to our book café, so it’s slowly beginning to step up,” she added.
“If people wanted to bring in pub games like dominoes or crossword, we have the facilities for them to do that, so it’s about what people want.
“We would love to see more people come in; the volunteers are doing an amazing job and hopefully they get something out of it.”
Here are the Warm Hubs in East Cambridgeshire you can visit and their opening times:
Ashley Warm Hub
Venue: Ashley Pavilion, High Street, Ashley, Newmarket, CB8 9DX
Opening times: Thursday, 12.30pm - 3.30pm (alternate weeks starting November 24)
Burrough Green Warm Hub
Venue: Burrough Green Reading Room, Bradley Road, Burrough Green, Newmarket, CB8 9NH
Opening times: Thursday, 3.30pm - 5pm and Friday, 9.30am - 11.30am
Burwell Warm Hub
Venue: Burwell Day Centre, Ash Grove, Parsonage Close, Burwell, Cambridge, CB25 0EN
Opening times: Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm
Ely Warm Hub
Venue: Ely Methodist Church, 13 - 15 Chapel Street, Ely, CB6 1AD
Opening times: Sunday, 1pm - 4pm
Fordham Warm Hub
Venue: Victoria Hall, Carter Street, Fordham, Ely, CB7 5NG
Opening times: Monday, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Wednesday, 9.30am - 12.30pm
Haddenham & Wilburton Warm Hub
Venue: Haddenham Sports and Social Club, Chewells Lane, Haddenham, Ely, CB6 3SS
Opening times: Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm
Little Downham Warm Hub
Venue: Little Downham Village Hall, Main Street, Little Downham, Ely, CB6 2ST
Opening times: Wednesday, 1pm - 4pm and Friday, 10am - 12pm
Little Thetford Warm Hub
Venue: Little Thetford Village Hall, The Wyches, Little Thetford, Ely, CB6 3HG
Opening times: Monday, 10am - 1pm, Thursday, 10am - 1pm
Littleport Warm Hub
Venue: St George's Church Parish Room, Church Lane, Littleport, Ely, CB6 1PS
Opening times: Wednesday, 2pm - 4pm, Friday, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Mepal Warm Hub
Venue: Mepal Village Hall, School Lane, Mepal, Ely, CB6 2AU
Opening times: Monday, 10am - 1pm
Soham Warm Hub
Venue: Walter Gidney Pavilion, Fountain Lane, Soham, Ely, CB7 5PL
Opening times: Tuesday, 12pm - 3pm
Stetchworth Warm Hub
Venue: Ellesmere Centre, Ley Road, Stetchworth, Newmarket, CB8 9TS
Opening times: Monday, 9am - 12pm, Wednesday, 9am - 12pm
Sutton Warm Hub
Venue: The Brunel Room within The Glebe, 4 High Street, Sutton, Ely, CB6 2RB
Opening times: Wednesday, 9am – 12pm.
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