To cope with the winter, the British open “heat banks” – liberation

Between the energy crisis and inflation, more Britons will have to do without heating. Cities and volunteers are taking on the problem by providing warm places where they can spend the day.

Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city, is bathed in a thick, slowly lifting fog. The thermometer will not be above 5 degrees today, and is about to turn into negative temperatures. In the Nessels district, northeast of the city, the tall spiers of buildings stand out in white light. “These shelters have major overcrowding issues” Beth Bailey, manager of POD, a community center located at the base of the buildings, where several associations, a library and a food bank work together.

cold wave

A new initiative has been added to the already busy schedule of social workers: to serve “Hot Place” Where to welcome those who can’t turn on the radiators this winter. “We always open the door to those who want to come and sit in a corner, charge their phone, drink a cup of tea and have a toast. Beth mentions. Now it has a name. It welcomes many people a day. “These are mainly retirees and the dangerous over 50s. There are also working people because a lot of jobs in this neighborhood are uberized and people have zero-hour contracts. [contrats précaires sans durée de travail minimale, ndlr]Without a fixed income.