In a week when West Norfolk finds itself in the grip of more seasonal cold weather, a village hall is opening its doors to offer a warm space for residents.

The trustees of Tilney All Saints Village Hall have spearheaded a ‘warm space’ initiative to provide a welcoming environment for all the community and surrounding villages.

The opening today, Wednesday, has come at just the right time as temperatures plunged to well below zero and the start of the week saw the first snow fall.

The village hall warm space will be open each Wednesday from 10.30am to 1pm with free food and hot drinks after funding of £2,000 has been secured to continue the project at the Church Road premises for the fourth year.

Chairperson of the hall committee, Robert Sloan, is keen to spread the word that the warm space isn’t just for those living in Tilney All Saints but residents from all the surrounding Tilney villages, Clenchwarton and the Walpoles are all welcome.

“We have lots of villages around us, about 17 from the King’s Lynn side, five Tilneys and five Walpoles and yet people from there don’t seem to want to come and take advantage of what we have to offer,” said Mr Sloan, who is the driving force behind the project.

“We welcome people from the wider area. The furthest we had was Leicester when someone stopped and came across us passing through to visit relatives and saw the sandwich board outside,” he said.

The warm space will be open just on Wednesdays from now through to the end of March and potentially into April if the money lasts.

Mr Sloan said one year the project was also extended to other days but failed to attract many people and the Wednesday opening has proved the most popular.

“Last year we did do a Saturday when the hall was free but it was difficult to get people to know when it was open. Just having one day in the week seems to suit people,” he said. “We have been doing this from the very concept of the warm hub, it’s our fourth year.”

The hall hosts regular Wednesday coffee mornings and Mr Sloan said the warm space is really an “extension” of that but with the offer of free food – bacon and sausage butties – hot and cold drinks and cakes.

Mr Sloan, 73, who has chaired the hall committee since 2013, was able to secure funding for this year’s warm space after successfully bidding for a grant from Home Instead Charities, along with £1,000 from Norfolk county councillor Julian Kirk, £250 from West Norfolk deputy mayor Steven Bearshaw, who is borough councillor for Clenchwarton and Tilney All Saints, and launching a community Crowdfunder appeal.

Cllr Kirk, who donated from his county councillor fund, has praised the organisers for their sterling work.

He said Mr Sloan, his wife Glenys, and committee do a “tremendous job” for the community.

“It’s a brilliant community get together, whether you need a hot cup of tea or not and Robert is famous for his bacon butties! I like to support community-based things,” said Cllr Kirk, whose ward covers the Walpole areas.

“Tilney is a traditional Norfolk village with a close community. Giving £1,000 allowed Robert to match-fund and get donations elsewhere,” added Cllr Kirk, who paid tribute to the team’s “hard work to keep the project going each year”.

As well as offering a free and safe place to gather, the concept of the warm spaces is also to reach out to those who may be isolated.

“Tilney All Saints Village Hall Charity has been very proud in providing a warm welcome space for our villagers and the population of the surrounding vicinity,” said Mr Sloan, adding the village has a high population of residents aged over 50 and having somewhere to meet has proved an opportunity to make new friends.

He said one villager aged in his 80s who lost his wife a few years ago is an example of someone who has been able to make new friends after regularly attending the coffee mornings.

Last year’s warm space saw a total of 65 people attend with previous years’ attendances even higher. It is estimated the project has made a difference to more than 100 people over the years.

The warm space/warm hub concept was launched nationally as a response to the cost of living crisis and to combat isolation with many venues opening up to offer a safe and friendly space during
the colder months.

Mr Sloan said a dedicated team of trustees and volunteers are responsible for running the Tilney warm space. The hall committee has just six members and welcomes new volunteers. Anyone who is interested or would like to find out more is asked to email: rcns.tasvhc@gmail.com