Ealing Council have issued grants totalling £13,000 to local voluntary, community, and faith organisations to provide warm spaces across the borough. 

These five new grants take the total up to 25 projects and £53,000 spent on providing safe and warm spaces for residents where they can go to help reduce their energy costs. 

The funding is given to help the organisations cover their energy costs, food and drinks, and any activities and games they put on during the winter months. 

Councillor Jasbir Anand, the council's cabinet member for thriving communities, said: "These services are a great example of communities coming together to support each other during this latest cold snap.  

"Even if it's just a warm cuppa and neighbourly chat, it can make a real difference to people who might otherwise be alone and fearful of heating bills." 

One of the organisations to receive this latest round of grants is St. Mary's Church Hall in Hanwell, they often have yoga and karate classes and will now be providing tea, coffee, biscuits, newspapers, and board games. 

St Mary's Reverend Andrew Dand chuckled: "We had a local café owner come down, and I thought he might complain about us giving away free tea and coffee.  

"But he said 'no, if anyone desperately needs something to eat, send them to us – and we'll feed them'."