Craven District Council is offering residents who are struggling to afford the cost of heating their home a free warm soup lunch with operatic entertainment.
Councillors have agreed to fund the project from its Cultural Services team, which will visit 'warm havens' around the district and see performances from opera singer Nicola Mills.
Last month the council revealed plans for key community venues across the district to provide warm spaces for people struggling to heat their homes this winter, as the cost of living crisis worsens, after support was agreed to address two crucial schemes. The first was for £30,000 to be added to the Ward Member Grants scheme. The second endorsement was in giving the go-ahead for a grant of £3,000 to SELFA - a Skipton-based charity supporting children and young people - which will provide 100 meals and 20 food parcels each week during December, January and February to families in need.
The Soup & Song events will take place across the district and will be held in a variety of spaces – some of which are signed up to the planned nationwide ‘warm hubs’ scheme – you can check the Skipton Town Hall website skiptontownhall.co.uk for more information or sign up to the mailing list for regular updates on when and where events will be held near you.
Between January and March, the team will work with Nicola Mills to bring weekly 2-3 hour sessions to people from the local community who may be struggling to heat their homes.
Chairman of Craven District Council and lead member for enterprising Craven, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “These are worrying times for people and we hope this initiative can help to ease some of the pressure our communities are feeling.
“Hats off to our Events Lead Joel Brogan for coming up with this idea and reaching out to people who are cold and lonely this winter in need of some hot food and company.”
Ten community venues across Craven have so far signed up to provide warm places. To find your nearest Warm Hub in the district visit cravendc.gov.uk/community-living/craven-warm-and-welcome-places-directory
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