A WARM brew and a chat are on offer as a gas company launch its first hub to help tackle loneliness.
Gas network company Cadent and The Warwickshire Rural Community Council (WRCC) have joined forces to convert a minibus into a Mobile Warm Hub for people to meet up and take part in community activities.
Cadent funded the refurbishment of the minibus, along with the next 12 months of activity across Solihull and rural Warwickshire.
WRCC, a charity with a mission to tackle disadvantage and support resilience in rural Warwickshire communities, will be running the service supported by the local volunteer driver charity VASA.
The Mobile Wam Hub service aims to combat the increased feelings of isolation felt by people in rural areas following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The inside of the minibus has been converted to offer seating for eight people with wheelchair access for use.
Malcom Dewsbury is a volunteer driver for WRCC and will be one of the volunteers driving the Mobile Warm Hub to rural communities is Warwickshire and Solihull.
He said: “Through my volunteering work I have found that some folk need the comfort of somebody to speak to, some have no visitors from week to week and live very lonely lives.
“It is always nice to leave them with a smile on their faces. The Mobile Warm Hub idea is the perfect opportunity to bring the community together and relieve loneliness.”
Phil Burrows, customer vulnerability social programmes delivery manager at Cadent said: “Social isolation is more prevalent than ever due to recent national lockdown, with rural communities also feeling the impact.
“It’s fantastic to be able to launch a project like the Mobile Warm Hub in the current challenging times, as communities needs for social interaction as well as warmth and energy advice is as strong as ever.”
For more on the Mobile Warm Hub or to find out where it will be visit https://www.wrccrural.org.uk/services/halls/warm-hubs/
