Visit the borough's Warm Welcome Centres
Thursday 30 January 2025: Hillingdon Council, in partnership with community organisations, is offering free, warm and welcoming places for residents to visit for a hot drink and some company during the colder winter days.
There's also health and wellbeing help and advice on offer with opportunities to access information and join workshops, including dementia support and men's health advice supported by local partner organisations, H4ALL, Healthwatch and The Confederation, Hillingdon.
In November and December, the centres recorded more than 2,800 visits.
Anne Bevan, from Ruislip, is part of the Get Creative craft group at Ruislip Manor Library. She said: "It's the company, but originally, I joined to learn how to do things. We teach each other things; we're a welcoming group and people are very welcome to come and warm themselves up with a cup of tea or coffee. Some people are not getting their Winter Fuel Payment anymore and they can turn the heating off for a couple of hours and go somewhere warm."
Irene Proctor, also from Ruislip, said the group was a place to socialise and talk through any issues. She said: "It's a happy place - we all sort our problems out and somebody's always got an answer. I live on my own and I found it easier to talk through my problems with the girls here and they were understanding."
Eileen Clark, from Uxbridge, joined a soup lunch held at Uxbridge Community Centre, and said: "Friends told me about it, so I came and had a look, and I think it's nice to be able to get out and a good idea. It's near to where I live and very friendly."
Cllr Jane Palmer, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: "Our warm welcome centres are friendly places where residents can enjoy activities, keep active and healthy while also staying warm and connecting with other people during the colder winter months.
"This is an important part of our winter support initiatives to create thriving, healthy households in the borough and, in particular, help our most vulnerable residents."
To see all available activities, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/13941/Warm-welcome-centres
