LIBRARIES and public spaces have been operating as 'Warm Spaces' for the past few months to help struggling residents through the cold weather and cost of living crisis.

With the snow and cold weather causing a chill in the coming days, St Helens Council confirmed that the public spaces are still operating as community warm hubs.

The 'Warm Spaces' initative was launched at the start of last winter, as the council estimated that around 42% of households were likely to be impacted by food poverty over winter.

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St Helens Star: Rainhill library, which will be used under the Warm Spaces initativeRainhill library, which will be used under the Warm Spaces initative (Image: Google Images)

The Warm Spaces project, organised under the St Helens Together initiative that was set up during the pandemic, means that all residents have somewhere comfortable to go and keep warm during the week.

The public spaces will operate as respectful and non-judgemental spaces, where residents can also socialise and receive support and advice.

At present, there are 47 Warm Spaces across the borough, which are subject to their individual opening times.

Residents can visit the spaces during the normal daily opening hours for each site.

Residents have commended the council's project, while also lamenting the situation where warm banks are a necessary measure to fight against rising bills.

Looking to expand the project further, the council is also asking for more places to be signed up to their Warm Spaces Charter, so that every resident has easy access to a Warm Space.

St Helens Star: Newton Community library is one of the public spaces opening as a warm spaceNewton Community library is one of the public spaces opening as a warm space (Image: Seve Gomez Aspron)

Full list of Warm Spaces in St Helens:

  • Central Link Children's Centre

Westfield Street, St Helens, WA10 1QF

  • Chester Lane Library

Four Acre Lane, Clock Face, WA9 4DE

  • Cross Lane United Church

 11 Cross Lane, St Helens, WA12 9SP

  • Derbyshire Hill Family Centre

Derbyshire Hill Road, Parr, WA9 2LU

  • Eccleston Library

Broadway, Eccleston, WA10 5PJ

  • Garswood Library

 School Lane, Garswood, WN4 0TT

  • Haydock Library

Church Road, Haydock, WA11 0LY

  • Moss Bank Library

Bowness Avenue, Moss Bank, St Helens, WA11 7EQ

  • Newton Community Centre

Newton-le-Willows, Park Road South, WA12 8EX

  • Newton le Willows Health & Fitness

Ashton Road, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 0AG

  • Newton le Willows Library

Crow Lane East, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 9TU

  • Park Farm Community Centre

Park Farm Community Centre, 54 Kentmere Avenue, Carr Mill, WA11 7PG

  • Parr Children's Centre

Ashtons Green Drive, Parr, St Helens, WA9 2AP

  • Parr Library

Fleet Lane, Parr, WA9 1SY

  • Peter Street Library

Peter Street, St Helens, WA10 2EQ

  • Queens Park Health and Fitness

Boundary Road, St Helens, WA10 2LT

  • Rainford Library

Church Road, Rainford, WA11 8HA

  • Rainhill Library

View Road, Rainhill, L35 0LE

  • St Anne & Blessed Dominic Parish Centre

40 Monastery Road, Sutton, WA10 4HW

  • St Helens Chamber

Clickworks, 4-6 Hardshaw Street, St Helens, WA10 1RE

  • St Helens Library

The World of Glass, Chalon Way East, St Helens, WA10 1BX

  • St Helens Parish Church

Church Square, St Helens, WA10 1AF

  • St John the Baptist's Church

Saint John Street, Newton le Willows, WA12 9NW

  • St Mark's T.A.N.G.O Pantry

St Mark's Centre, Park Street, Haydock, WA11 0AX

  • St Mary's Parish Centre

Birchley Road, Billinge, WN5 7QT

  • St Patrick's Parish Centre

111 Common Road, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 9JH

  • St Paul's Church, Blackbrook

St Paul's Church, Chain Lane, Blackbrook, WA11 9QF

  • St Peter's Church, Parr

St Peter's Church, Broad Oak Road, Parr, WA92DZ

  • St Philip's Church

St Philip's Church, Fleet Lane, Parr, WA9 2NQ,

  • St Teresa's Parish Centre

Windsor Road, St Helens, WA10 4HW

  • Standing Tall Foundation

Well Being Building, Borough Road, St Helens, WA10 3RN

  • Sutton Children's Centre

Ellamsbridge Road, Sutton, St Helens, WA9 3PY

  • Sutton Leisure Centre

Elton Head Road, Sutton, WA9 5AU

  • T.A.N.G.O. Community Project at St Marks Centre, Haydock

Park Street, Haydock, WA11 0BG

  • Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC

Close Street, Thatto Heath, WA9 5JA

  • Thatto Heath Library

Thatto Heath Road, Thatto Heath, WA10 3QS

  • Wonderland Community Centre C.I.C

Unit 4, Reflection Court, Canal Street, St Helens, WA10 3JQ

For more information about Warm Spaces and to register a place on the register, you can visit the council's website here.