Middlesbrough primary school successfully launches Warm Hub
Ayresome Primary School, in the heart of Middlesbrough, launched a Warm Hub Scheme this week to help parents cope with rising living costs.
On Monday November 7, the Warm Hub opened its doors to the community enabling parents to come together with their children after school three days a week. Ayresome is part of the Ad Astra Academy Trust.
Outreach for parents in need
A wide range of activities will be available in Ayresome school for both children and parents, as well as the opportunity to eat, saving families money on food and energy costs. Just days after the scheme was announced, over fifty families have already signed up to the scheme.
Ad Astra Chief Executive Officer, Andy Brown OBE, commented:
“All of our schools within the Trust offer a variety of initiatives to help meet the needs of all of our children and their families. The Warm Hub Scheme at Ayresome is a great idea and will provide much-needed support to families at a very difficult time.”
The scheme also has the backing of Middlesbrough Council and its directly elected mayor, Andy Preston who came down to the school to show his support. Several Middlesbrough Council buildings are also doubling up as Warm Spaces.
No addition cost to the school
Charlotte Haylock, Head Teacher of Ayresome Primary School, said:
“We are well aware of the financial pressures facing many of our families due to the rising living costs and as a school we have a duty to support our children and their families as much as we can. Activities will include arts and crafts, board games, sports and it will provide an opportunity for parents to build friendships.
At the end of the school day we already operate after school clubs for children so the Warm Hub Scheme is, in essence, an extension of this which will enable parents to benefit too.
There is no additional cost to the school because the heating and lighting is on anyway and we have staff in the school. The school is also liaising with charitable organisations to see if they can help with costs towards food and it’s fantastic that The Teesside Charity has already contributed £350.”
Initial feedback for the scheme from parents has been positive with praise on Facebook thanking the staff at Ayresome for their ‘care and love’. One parent commented that the school had gone ‘above and beyond’ for not only children but parents too, with another expressing gratitude for the exceptional organisation of the scheme.
Parents felt that the Warm Hub brought the community together and allowed them to have time to meet other parents and socialise, whilst saving them money on food, electricity and heating costs at home.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East commented:
“Congratulations to Ayresome Primary School on the successful launch of their Warm Hub Scheme. It is humbling to again see schools supporting their parents and communities through a crisis. The energy and cost of living crisis is affecting so manyl and Ayresome have found a way to provide an extra lifeline to their community at no extra cost to their own budget. This is an inspired idea and once again shows that schools act as a ‘fourth emergency service’ for so many communities in the North East. Well done to all involved.”
As well as Ayresome, Middlesbrough council are providing several buildings as Warm Spaces. The venues will offer a range of services and advice at different times. For further information, visit www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/warm-spaces
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