Newham libraries become Warm Havens for 500,000 people

Half a million people have visited the Council’s ten libraries since Newham’s Warm Havens programme launched last November.

Warm Havens were created to provide inclusive, safe and warm spaces during the winter as energy costs soared, part of the cost of living crisis.

The Warm Havens initiative, which has now officially ended, benefitted from extended opening hours in all libraries, resulting in an additional 7,000 new library memberships.

Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said: “The ever growing cost of living crisis means that councils are providing more and more support to residents. Here in Newham, our Warm Havens were a crucial part of our wider effort to ensure that everyone in our community had a safe, non-judgmental, and warm place to go to during the cold winter months.

“I am pleased that we have been able to help so many people with this initiative. Our brilliant library staff and volunteers have worked incredibly hard to provide a warm welcome and a hot cuppa along with valuable advice on where to get help with managing rising costs.”

Libraries are now part of the National Databank to provide 500 free SIM cards in Newham every month. Anyone interested in this should pop into their local library for more information.

Any resident of Newham who is facing financial difficulty and needs help should visit www.newham.gov. uk/costoflivingresponse or call Our Newham Money on 020 8430 2041