In London, NGOs are setting up shelters to give the poor a warm place to spend a few hours as winter approaches. The first is called the “heat bank” and is located at number one Kennington Road, south of the Thames. This refuge is intended to allow the poorest citizens who they can’t turn on the heaters at home spend a few hours in the heat.
The idea comes after soaring gas and electricity prices have soured the bills of hundreds of citizens, especially London residents. Associations and municipalities are launching similar initiatives in all UK municipalities to combat the onset of winter and the sharp rise in prices.
The idea is very similar to that of food banks that use unsold products to feed those without food to bring to the table for free.
The Lambeth North Osasi Foundation Refuge will be Open all days and will be equipped with wooden tables to allow children to study, colorful armchairs and LED lamps. On the ground floor of the structure, there will be a corner bar offering tea and coffee. Already in the fridge, food products will be available provided by some shopkeepers in the neighborhood.
In England, theatres, churches and art galleries closed during the pandemic are also turning into “heat benches”. Initiatives are also springing up in Birmingham, Dundee, Bristol and Sheffield, as well as in Glasgow and Aberdeen, Scotland.
The Devonport Municipal Library, for example, decided to keep it open at night six days a week in order to accommodate anyone in need of a cozy shelter.
The charity Age UK has estimated that at least 2.5 million people have died from the cold in the last 60 years in Wales and England. Most victims are elderly.
Source: Fan Page IT
Ashley Root is an experienced business journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in economics and finance, she has a deep understanding of the inner workings of the business world and is able to provide insightful and informative analysis on a wide range of topics.
