This winter, Nottingham Women’s Centre is proud to be named as a Warm Welcome Spaces Champion. We are one of 50 Warm Welcome Spaces in the country to be named, out of an amazing community of over 5,000. In its third year, the Warm Welcome Spaces campaign has a simple mission – to make sure that no one has to face the isolation, hardship and cold that the winter months bring alone. Becoming a Champion strengthens our ability to provide that support for women in Nottingham.
What is a Warm Welcome Space?
What started as a crisis response to the combined factors of a cost-of-living crisis and ever-colder winters has become a national movement to connect individuals and create a sense of community. Last winter, Warm Welcome Spaces across the country recorded over 2.6 million visits, leading to a profound impact on the sense of loneliness, isolation and wellbeing of those visitors.
In the first two years, over half of those visitors said that without the space, they would be at home without the heating on. Physical warmth is important, but only makes up some of the impact Warm Welcome Spaces have on visitors, 87% say that being in the space has a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
NWC’s Warm Space
Our warm space is open Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, at our building on Chaucer Street. It is completely free and open to all self-identifying women who need a warm space during the day.
Women who visit our Warm Space can:
- Help themselves to free hot drinks
- Get comfy in the welcome space
- Use our cosy library
- Relax in a safe, women-only environment
- Book time in our kitchen to prepare food
- Take a hot shower
- Use our washing and drying facilities for laundry
- Connect with staff and volunteers
- Enjoy our quiet room
- Join in on our many activities
Why this matters
The continuing cost-of-living crisis disproportionately affects women due to structural inequalities such as the gender pay gap, higher caring responsibilities and lower levels of savings and wealth. Many of the women who visit us also face challenges including insecure housing, low income and social isolation. For some, this is compounded by experiences of violence against women and girls, making access to safe, women-only spaces especially vital.
Without a warm space, some women would be forced to stay in cold homes or unsafe environments.
Being a Warm Welcome Spaces Champion means that our work to provide an inclusive, compassionate and caring space has been recognised nationally. It also connects us to a wider network of community-focused organisations working towards the same goal: ensuring everyone has access to warmth, community and care.
Our Heart
At the heart of our Warm Space, and our centre generally, are our staff and volunteers who make it possible. Starting with a friendly welcome at reception to the incredible volunteers that keep our monthly coffee and chat sessions running, everyone in the centre has a shared mission of kindness and warmth for every woman that steps through our doors.
How to support our mission
Consider making a donation to help us continue to provide this essential, warm space for all women in Nottinghamshire. Quite simply, everyone deserves a warm, welcoming place. At Nottingham Women’s Centre, the door is open – and the kettle is on.