Dorking Sports Centre to Offer a Warm Welcome this Winter
GLL, the charitable social enterprise that operates Dorking Sports Centre and Leatherhead Leisure Centre under its Better brand, has announced they’re launching the innovative Warm Spaces Scheme on Sunday January 21, 2024 in Dorking. The community project has been set up in response to the winter’s cost of living crisis and provides anyone living in the town and surrounding areas with a hot drink, comfortable seating, and the opportunity to charge a phone or device, use the free Wi-Fi, and even have a hot shower. Plans to replicate a Warm Space scheme at the Leatherhead Leisure Centre will be explored by GLL in the near future.
GLL’s Warm Spaces scheme is aligned with Mole Valley District Council’s Warm Hubs and provides local residents with an opportunity to enjoy a friendly chat and a hot drink with their local community and members of staff at Dorking Sports Centre. The team will also be laying on a book swap with both children's and adults' books, puzzles, and colouring pages. In addition, local business Lavender Catering has stepped in to kindly provide a range of refreshments for the project, including tea, coffee, and biscuits.
The Warm Space scheme is open to all, with both Dorking and Leatherhead leisure centre members and non-members alike invited to come along every Sunday at any time between 7am and 7pm. The project will be taking place in the community room near reception throughout the winter up until the end of March 2024, simply speak to a member of the team on arrival.
Commenting on the Warm Spaces initiative, Lea Benn, General Manager at Dorking Sports Centre, said: "As a facility at the heart of our local community, we quickly became aware that a number of local residents were concerned that they might struggle to heat their homes this winter, and as a charitable social enterprise, we wanted to help."
“Our facilities are ideally suited to serve as warm spaces; they are easily accessible, known to everyone, and a natural meeting place. Our staff will be on hand to offer a warm welcome to anyone wishing to make the most of our warm space during the difficult months ahead.”
Joseph Rham, Customer Experience Director at GLL, said: “We are a charitable social enterprise whose ethos is to give back to local communities.
“The ongoing challenge of high utility prices, combined with a wider cost of living crisis, will once again leave many people struggling this winter. Where we can, we want to support those who are finding it hard to heat their homes during the coldest months of the year."
Councillor Rosemary Hobbs, Mole Valley District Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “At a time of year when the UK is experiencing particularly low temperatures - and the added pressure that puts on Mole Valley households to pay more to heat their homes - GLL’s announcement that Dorking Sports Centre is to become a warm space venue is very welcome news indeed. I am so pleased with the speed at which the new operator of both our sport facilities is engaging with and looking to provide help to our local communities; including the recently announced GLL Sport Foundation scheme. The details of the other Warm Hub venues in Mole Valley are available on our website.