A Christian charity in Berkshire has launched a 'warm bank' to help people who are struggling with the cost of living crisis

New Beginnings Reading has offered to keep their heating on around the clock for anyone who may need a warm safe haven this winter. 

As the cost of living crisis continues to grip the UK, visitors to the "warm bank" would be able to enjoy the heating during the day and recieve a hot drink and soup for free.

The charity runs an all day café and provides shelter for the homeless and is based at the former Queens Arms pub in Great Knollys Street.

Isabelle Six is a trustee at New Beginnings Reading . 

She tells Premier they are seeing more and more people come through their doors: "We're seeing an increase in need and we're also seeing a change in the demographic of the people who are making use of our services. 

"It's more and more people who do have jobs, but cannot make ends meet by the end of the month and we expect that that need will continue to grow over the next few months."

To meet the heating costs, New Beginnings Reading has launched a fundraising campaign for £100,000.

When asked if they themselves are struggling with the rising cost of energy bills, Ms Six said: "Absolutely and we have launched a fundraising campaign alongside this warm bank to enable us to keep the lights on the heating on. 

"That's a very real need for us as well is, is to bring in those pennies."

When asked how they come up with the idea of a 'warm bank' Ms Six said: "With Martin Lewis talking about 'warm banks' we thought we should be a 'warm bank.'

"We should be somewhere that these people can come to be warm, get a free cup of hot drinks, free soup, charge their phones, get their washing done if they need to, all these things that people you know, are going to need help with."

With the new Prime Minister set to be announced on Monday 5th September 2022, Ms Six said what she would like to say to the government in the midst of the cost of living crisis: "I'd like to see them living on Universal Credit and not just for a day or a week but for a couple of months and not in their own homes. 

"I'd like them to really experience what it is like for people who are living on what they believe people can live on."

The 'warm bank' will launch when the temperature drops in October.

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