The Warm Welcome Campaign has launched Warm Welcome Week today, on Blue Monday, to shine a light on the importance of community spaces offering warmth and connection during the winter months. Endorsed by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the initiative highlights the growing network of Warm Welcome Spaces and their critical role in addressing loneliness and providing warmth to those who need it most.
New data from the campaign reveals that while 5,000 Warm Welcome Spaces have been registered across the UK – marking a 25% increase since October 2024 – awareness remains a challenge. Although 66% of UK residents live within a 30-minute walk of one of these spaces, only 20% are aware of their local facility. Over the past year, nearly 5.5 million people – 8.1% of the UK population – have visited these spaces, demonstrating their significance in supporting both physical and social well-being.
The campaign has taken steps to transform Blue Monday, often labelled the most depressing day of the year, into a celebration of warmth and positivity. During Warm Welcome Week, the public is encouraged to wear bright, warm colours , such as pinks, oranges, reds, and purples – to raise awareness of these vital community spaces.
In a bid to expand the initiative, the Warm Welcome Campaign is urging the creation of more pop-up spaces. These spaces provide not only a warm environment but also a safe and welcoming haven for those facing loneliness or struggling to afford heating. The recent cold snap, with temperatures dropping below freezing, has prompted the registration of 100 additional spaces in the past two weeks, bringing the total to over 5,000. The campaign’s ultimate goal is to ensure every neighbourhood has access to a Warm Welcome Space.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Founding Patron of the Warm Welcome Campaign, expressed his support:
“In the darkest and coldest times, Warm Welcome Spaces offer communities a chain of hope. Without these community spaces, people would be at home with the heating off—and thus alone and in the cold. They offer more than just the warmth of heating but the warmth of friendship.
“I want everyone to experience the joy of human warmth this winter at a local Warm Welcome Space. Join me in supporting Warm Welcome Week and spreading the word so that everyone knows there’s a Warm Welcome Space close to home. Together we can make every community a warmer, friendlier, and more hopeful place.”
David Barclay, Director of the Warm Welcome Campaign, also emphasised the importance of these spaces:
“We have already seen huge demand for Warm Welcome Spaces this January, not only supporting people struggling to pay the bills but also playing a vital role in connecting communities and giving people a place of belonging. The dark winter days and nights of January can be extremely tough. We don’t want anyone to feel cold or alone this winter.
“We’re asking everyone to join us in Warm Welcome Week to raise awareness so more people can find a place of warmth and welcome and by encouraging more community spaces to open their doors to local people. Everyone can show their support by simply wearing bright, warming colours of pinks, oranges, purples, and reds to represent the joy, positivity, and friendship found in every Warm Welcome Space.”
The campaign is supported by a network of corporate partners, including Co-op, National Grid Electricity Distribution, OVO, Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks, and Sky Cares. Their backing has been instrumental in expanding the availability of these vital spaces across the country.
The Warm Welcome website hosts an interactive map, allowing people to locate their nearest Warm Welcome Space by entering their postcode. This simple tool ensures that anyone seeking warmth, friendship, or a sense of community can find support nearby.
