There are now 46 warm spaces across Huntingdonshire thanks to more community chest grants awarded to aid the set-up of three new warm spaces.

Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) has awarded £500-worth of grants to St Peter's Church in Kings Ripton, Hilton Village Hall and Pidley Village Hall to help them set up and function.

Executive councillor for community and health, Ben Pitt, said: "As a local authority, it is always a priority to support our communities in times of need.

"The overwhelming support towards the Warm Spaces project is ongoing, and I am thrilled we are able to continue supporting them with Community Chest Grant funding.

The Hunts Post: A seated exercise class taking place at Fenstanton warm space, providing valuable support for the community. A seated exercise class taking place at Fenstanton warm space, providing valuable support for the community. (Image: Huntingdonshire District Council)

St Peter's Church, Kings Ripton

The church will use the money to pay for heating costs and offer coffee mornings and hot food.

The warm space will take place once a week in the village hall and be run by volunteers.

Churchwarden for Kings Ripton Church, Bronwen Rayner, said: "The HDC funding is allowing our church to supply a warm space in the village hall with lunches and refreshments that will benefit the entire local community by providing fun, friendship and fellowship on a weekly basis.

READ MORE: New community Warm Space in Houghton full of 'friendship.'

READ MORE: Cost of Living: List of 'Warm Hubs' in Huntingdonshire.

"The funding will cover costs of food and heating bills to provide a focal point for villagers to congregate and hopefully promote a social hub that will continue to improve community life in the future."

Hilton Village Hall

The £500 will provide films, games and hot drinks for participants in their Warm Space.

They will provide a supportive space for residents to come to be warm and socialise with local members of their community.

Hilton Village Hall committee member, Heather Chambers, said: "This grant has enabled us to offer the community various activities which they can enjoy in the warm, be together and will continue to build on the community spirit which Hilton enjoys.

"We will be running a weekly coffee afternoon on Fridays where people can bring games, chat and keep warm, from 3-6pm. "We are also running monthly film showings starting on Saturday, January 28 at 5:30pm. Two further dates are February 18 and March 18."

Pidley Village Hall

The £500 will be utilised to help with heating costs and to provide tea, coffee and soup for anyone within the community.

This warm space will benefit Pidley and Fenton villagers and residents of the surrounding village who may feel like they would like some company or a safe place to keep warm.

The Hunts Post: Volunteers at Queens Park Hall, Yaxley warm space, which was awarded a £500 Community Chest Grant back in November 2022.Volunteers at Queens Park Hall, Yaxley warm space, which was awarded a £500 Community Chest Grant back in November 2022. (Image: Huntingdonshire District Council)

Chairman of Pidley Village Hall, Sarah Chukoloca, said: "The funding really helps us to heat the building and provide basic provisions for anyone who wishes to use them.

"We want to use our community centre to reach out to people in times of need.

"We are a small community, but we have some very dedicated volunteers who run and look after this valuable village space.

"The funding enables us to provide a warm place for residents of the village and surrounding villages to come and have some company and a safe place to retreat in times of need. We have free wifi available and some tea/coffee facilities if required.

"The village hall and community centre were bought/built by the community, for the community, and I hope we can provide this space for years to come, even during these times of great uncertainty for so many."

Find out more information on the Warm Spaces in Huntingdonshire webpage.