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By Emma Draper - Local Democracy Reporter

A fund has been set up by the Manx government to support local authorities and charities wishing to set up warm hubs over the winter period.

 

£100,000 will be made available through the Manx Lottery Trust, and organisations can apply for up to £2,500 to support their projects.

 

The grant can be put towards heating the hub but also provisions such as transport and food.

 

It can also be used by groups to help extend current operating hours or be open on more days.

 

Arbory and Rushen Parish Commissioners will be starting their community hubs project next month.

 

Currently the commissioners are looking at expanding the hours of groups that already have meetings on weekdays and encouraging them to open up to more people.

 

They are also planning to co-ordinate with churches, secular groups and government to be able to run sessions every day from October to March.

 

Commissioner Jane Glover said at Wednesday’s meeting: “Lots of things happen in the day time and I think the focus has been on the elderly.

 

“We have Southern Befrienders joining in and people trying to fill gaps. On Tuesday evening we [commissioners] could probably do something and  Ballafessoon will be doing something on Thursday.

 

“It will be hard to reach the people who need it most. I have had Mannin Quilters offering blankets and somebody wanting to fund catering.”

 

The fund opens on 1 October and closes on 1 April 2023.

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