Warm Hubs News

Online training courses for volunteers 2023/24

As part of our Winter Warm Hubs programme of funding this year, we have included free short online training courses for volunteers to help support their hubs in our Warwickshire and Solihull network this winter. Organisers have already been asked to choose courses for a volunteer to attend – at least 2 courses for those from WRCC accredited permanent Warm Hubs and a minimum of 3 courses for those from funded Winter Warm Hubs.

Below are the 2023 dates for the Community Energy Champions course. All hubs need to send a volunteer (or 2, if preferred, subject to place availability) on this training course in accordance with funding requirements. Please email wendyl@wrccrural.org.uk to confirm the names of your volunteer(s) who will be attending and your preferred date for this course. If your volunteer is unable to attend on either date, please let Wendy know so we can consider alternative dates for early 2024.

  • Community Energy Champions 

PLEASE NOTE: We are now fully subscribed for both of these sessions. Further dates will be added soon for January 2024

This course will be delivered by Becky Laflain from NEA (National Energy Action), and will cover the following:

  • Introduction to fuel poverty and how that looks in todays energy crisis
  • How to support householders in the community, by checking statements, meters and contacting suppliers in the event of issues
  • Preparing for winter, including how to save energy in the home and the key causes of condensation and damp
  • Finding support from the government, local schemes, fuel suppliers and good places to find advice
  • Q & A session

Below are the dates for this year’s Safeguarding and Risk Management course options:

  • Safeguarding: An Introduction

Either Tuesday 21st November, 10.30am – 12.00noon, or Thursday 7th December, 10.30am – 12.00noon. Click here to book your place on this course.

This course will be delivered by John Preston from Halls Together (a partnership between WRCC and Leicestershire & Rutland RCC).

This is an introductory session to promote awareness of adult and children safeguarding and its importance, including good practice for village and community halls or groups using such venues such as Warm Hubs and Winter Warm Hubs, plus resources available and where to find your local safeguarding contacts.

  • Risk Management

Either Wednesday 29th November, 10.30am – 12.00noon, or Tuesday 5th December, 7.00pm – 8.30pm. Click here to book your place on this course.

This course will be delivered by John Preston from Halls Together (a partnership between WRCC and Leicestershire & Rutland RCC).

Trustees of community buildings have health and safety duties for those who use the hall where they still have control over it. Users, such as Warm Hubs and Winter Warm Hubs also have responsibility for managing risks, so far as reasonably practicable, arising from their own activities when they have control of premises or control of equipment on the premises. This session will look at managing risk, Health & Safety and undertaking Risk Assessments.

You may have applied for other course options, including Volunteer Management and Training, Bid Writing, Promoting your Hub and First Aid. We are waiting to confirm dates for these courses and will contact you with this information as soon as possible.

If you are a community group/venue based in Warwickshire or Solihull who hasn’t yet applied for Winter Warm Hub funding (or are waiting for confirmation of your application) and you would like to attend any of the above courses subject to availability, please email wendyl@wrccrural.org.uk

Should additional Winter Warm Hub funding become available, we will promote this on this site, via our newsletter and on our social media. In the meantime, if you are a potential hub organiser thinking about setting up or developing a current event, you may find the following information helpful:

Winter Warm Hubs 2023-24 Organiser’s Checklist

Winter Warm Hubs project findings 2022-23

Warm Hubs Workshop – 13th September 2023

WRCC’s first Warm Hubs Workshop was a great success, with 120 people packing into the Conference Centre at Warwick University (Wellesbourne campus) to make connections, share experiences and learning, and celebrate the amazing work that’s taking place at community hubs throughout Warwickshire and Solihull!

Speakers included Warm Hub organisers and representatives from the British Motor Museum, Citizens Advice, National Energy Action, Warwickshire Healthwatch, Fire and Rescue Services, Warwickshire and Solihull CAVA, Think Active (who also led a seated exercise taster session) and Warwickshire County Council, plus WRCC and project sponsor Cadent. Panel sessions were moderated by Halls Together and WRCC representatives.

Warm Hubs Workshop press release 18.09.23