COMMUNITY grants to create warm hubs this winter are available for voluntary and community organisations.

Hampshire County Council’s leader’s community grants of up to £5,000 are available for groups that would like to host a warm hub or welcoming spaces.

Maybe you can offer a regular coffee morning or afternoon tea, or provide a shared activity like singing, exercise classes or chess, as somewhere people can gather together.

Applications are also welcome from parish and town councils and Hampshire-based branches of national charities.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Rob Humby, said: “While households have been given a level of assurance that fuel bills will be contained to April 2023 for now, we know that many will still struggle significantly, facing exceptionally difficult choices about how budgets are spent this autumn and winter.

“As the colder months approach, we want to do what we can to support our local communities. We are therefore now inviting voluntary and community organisations to apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to develop and host warm hubs where people can gather together. This might be in the form of a regular coffee morning, or the provision of a shared activity, however we welcome creative ideas and concepts that will deliver support especially to our most vulnerable residents.”

Grant applications can be submitted at any time, and are reviewed on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

For more information, go to hants.gov.uk/community/grants/grants-list/leaders-community-grants