The concept of warm hubs as a free space you can visit to avoid getting cold in your own home is even more important in the current weather, with estimates that over three million households are not able to afford to keep their home warm. I was pleased to Chair the Town Council’s Grants Awards Panel last night which agreed to fund the Mustard Seed Café, Mid Sussex Voluntary Action and Community Transport Sussex to enable them to provide additional warm hubs and free transport. We also agreed to provide additional support for the work of The King’s Church and the previous meeting provided funding for Burgess Hill Pantry, St Andrew’s Church and Age UK West Sussex.

This contrasts with the last Mid Sussex District Council meeting when the Conservative controlled council was requested to step up to the plate and provide additional funding, not least because many voluntary organisations are suffering from additional costs to fund their existing operations let alone fund new initiatives. Now more than ever is the time to supporting those least well off in our communities.

Of course ideally their would be no need for warm hubs but with energy prices soaring, and the lack of action nationally in focusing support for energy costs on those who need it most, as well as failing to tackle an energy market that gives us one of the highest costs in Europe, this is unfortunately likely to be a continuing need.