A community centre in Leeds says it will not be a designated Warm Space this year – because they cannot meet demand.
Leeds’ network of Warm Spaces is facing growing demand as the city prepares for another winter, with the council now referring to the venues as “Welcome Spaces”.
Places open during the winter months to provide people with a free place to stay warm, socialise and access a hot drink. Leeds introduced their “Warm Welcome Spaces” scheme in 2022 as the cost of living crisis placed increasing pressure on households across the city.
The programme has grown significantly since its launch.
Attendance has been recorded annually. In 2023/24, Welcome Spaces recorded 58,149 visits, growing to 65,653 in 2024/25 — an increase of almost 13%.
During winter 2024/25, more than 200 spaces were available including voluntary and faith organisations, as well as council-run community hubs and libraries. Coordinated through 30 Leeds Community Anchor Network members.
The council continued the Welcome Spaces programme for winter 2025/26, with spaces opening from 1st December 2025. However, a final council evaluation for that winter has not yet been published, meaning there is currently no confirmed city-wide attendance figure for 2025/26.
But the growing number of people using the spaces is putting pressure on some venues.
Kirkgate Market Community Hub, which has been a Warm Space since the beginning, said they have “no room for anyone to come in”.
Leeds central library was previously a cool space earlier in the year. they commented and said they “still have water for the cool spaces set up” and are not planning for the warm spaces in the current warm weather.
The Leeds Directory also provides a searchable list of Welcome Spaces, allowing residents to find venues and information about their provision.
A national Warm Welcome map also lists Leeds venues offering support, although its listings are not identical to Leeds City Council’s official Welcome Spaces network.
With demand continuing to rise, the expansion of the scheme reflects the growing need for accessible places where people can stay warm without having to spend money.
For some community venues, however, the growing number of people relying on the service is creating its own challenge — with limited space potentially leaving some residents looking elsewhere for support this winter.