Local housing association customers in Lincolnshire will continue to receive a warm welcome and support at their community hubs, thanks to £30,000 funding from Platform Housing Group and EEM.
Platform Housing Group, whose vision is to build a better future by investing in affordable homes, services and communities is using £20,000 from their Wellbeing and Community Chest Funds, along with a further £10,000 grant from the EEM Trust, to help support existing warm hubs.
One of the first local organisations to benefit is The Lighthouse Project in Louth who have received £600 of the funding to help them continue to hold their warm hub sessions every Wednesday and Friday (10am – 2pm). The funding will also enable them to give out warm packs for use at home to help people keep a little warmer.
Marion Duffy, Chief Operations Officer at Platform Housing Group said, “Running in the heart of local communities, warm hubs are designed to support vulnerable and isolated people, as well as those on lower incomes, when the cost of living continues to be a daily challenge.
“The activities and services available at the community hubs we’re supporting are operated by volunteers from within the local area; people who are uniquely positioned to understand the needs of their local communities.”
Platform’s campaign to keep their customers warm and supported will see them donate £5,700 to local charities and organisations across Lincolnshire, including Mareham Le Fen Community Centre, Winnies Community Lounge, Skegness Methodist Church, Wainfleet Methodist Church and Community Centre, The Storehouse Skegness, Centenary Methodist Church, Horncastle Crisis Team, Wragby Chef, Alford Hub, Binbrook and District Residents Association, Coastal Centre, Mablethorpe and PPC Louth Trinity Centre.
Mark Harrison from the Lighthouse Project said: “We recently held an extra drop-in session, at the Lighthouse as part of World Autism Acceptance Week, joined by carers too. The room was full and as I looked round, I thought we’ve been a warm space through the winter, but we also need to carry on as a safe space. Thanks to friends like Platform Housing Group, we will be able to do this.”
Header image: Platform’s Director of Housing Operations Lisa Fairlie (third from right) is pictured with colleagues and local Councillor William Gray (second from right) presenting the £600 donation to Mark Harrison (third from left) from the Lighthouse Project.