Sandwell Council is providing Warm Spaces to anyone who needs a safe place to keep warm over the Christmas and New Year holiday.

Some libraries will be open between Christmas and New Year – including Central Library in West Bromwich being available as a Warm Space between 10am and 4pm throughout the break, including on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

There are also several community and voluntary sector run Warm Spaces that will also be available for anyone who needs them. Leader of Sandwell Council Councillor Kerrie Carmichael said:

“We know our Warm Spaces are really valued by many people and we felt it was important we did everything possible to make them available between Christmas and New Year.

“Our libraries would usually be closed during this period, so I would like to thank the staff who are providing this really important service over the Christmas break.

“More than 11,000 people a week are coming into our libraries and many of those people need somewhere warm and safe. We’re pleased to be able to offer a place to keep warm and have a hot drink every day of the Christmas holidays.

“We’re very lucky in Sandwell to have fantastic community and voluntary groups who are also opening their Warm Spaces over the holiday period.”

Warm Spaces are free to access and provide a hot drink and somewhere to charge phones and other devices. At Warm Spaces, you can also have a chat with staff about other support services available. Get advice and information about benefits, energy support, managing bills, how local charities can help, and how to access community support to combat isolation.

Here's where and when you can find a Warm Space in Sandwell over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Saturday 24 December (Christmas Eve)

• All Sandwell Council libraries will continue to be Warm Spaces on Christmas Eve during their normal Saturday opening hours.

Sunday 25 December (Christmas Day)

• Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ - 10am - 4pm
• Jamia Mosque Anwar Trust, Windmill Lane, Smethwick, B66 3EU – 12pm-6pm

Monday 26 December (Boxing Day)

• Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ - 10am - 4pm
• Jamia Mosque Anwar Trust, Windmill Lane, Smethwick, B66 3EU - 9am-8pm

Tuesday 27 December

• Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ - 10am - 4pm
• Smethwick Library, High Street, Smethwick, B66 1AA - 10am - 4pm
• Illeys Community Association, Victoria Park Skills Centre, Smethwick, B66 3PU - 9.30am-2pm
• Oldbury Salvation Army, Merton Close (off Pound Road), Oldbury, B68 8NG – 9.30am-6.30pm
• Jamia Mosque Anwar Trust, Windmill Lane, Smethwick, B66 3EU - 9am-8pm

Wednesday 28 December

• Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ - 10am - 4pm
• Blackheath, 145 High Street, Blackheath, B65 0EA - 10am - 4pm
• Oldbury Library, Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, B69 3DB - 10am - 4pm
• Smethwick Library, High Street, Smethwick, B66 1AA - 10am - 4pm
• Wednesbury Library, Walsall Street, Wednesbury, WS10 9EH - 10am - 4pm
• Life in Community CIC, St John's Hall, Upper Church Lane, Tipton, DY4 9ND -12pm -5.30pm
• Leabrook Methodist Church, Leabrook Road North, Wednesbury, WS10 7LY -10am-12.30pm
• Jamia Mosque Anwar Trust, Windmill Lane, Smethwick, B66 3EU - 9am-8pm
• 4CommunityTrust, 4CT Hub, Wiltshire Way, Hateley Heath, B71 1JU - 10am – 2.30pm

Thursday 29 December

• Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ - 10am - 4pm
• Blackheath Library, 145 High Street, Blackheath, B65 0EA - 10am - 4pm
• Glebefields Library, St Marks Road, Tipton, DY4 0SZ - 10am - 4pm
• Oldbury Library, Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, B69 3DB - 10am - 4pm
• Smethwick Library, High Street, Smethwick, B66 1AA - 10am - 4pm
• Wednesbury Library, Walsall Street, Wednesbury, WS10 9EH - 10am - 4pm
• 4CommunityTrust, 4CT Hub, Wiltshire Way, Hateley Heath, B71 1JU – 10am-2.30pm
• West Bromwich Dartmouth CC, Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B71 4JQ – 4pm-11pm
• Jamia Mosque Anwar Trust, Windmill Lane, Smethwick, B66 3EU - 9am-8pm

Friday 30 December

• Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ - 10am - 4pm
• Oldbury Library, Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, B69 3DB - 10am - 4pm
• Smethwick Library, High Street, Smethwick, B66 1AA - 10am - 4pm
• Ileys Community Association, Victoria Park Skills Centre, Smethwick, B66 3PU - 3pm-7pm
• Wednesbury Sons of Rest, Foley Street, Wednesbury, WS10 9HG – 10:30am – 1pm
• Jamia Mosque Anwar Trust, Windmill Lane, Smethwick, B66 3EU -9am-8pm
• 4CommunityTrust, 4CT Hub, Wiltshire Way, Hateley Heath, B71 1JU – 10am-2pm

Saturday 31 December (New Year’s Eve)

• All Sandwell Council libraries will be Warm Spaces on New Year's Eve during their normal Saturday opening hours.

Sunday 1 January 2023 (New Year’s Day)

• Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ - 10am - 4pm
• West Bromwich Dartmouth CC, Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B71 4JQ -10am-8pm
• Jamia Mosque Anwar Trust, Windmill Lane, Smethwick, B66 3EU – 12pm-6pm

Monday 2 January 2023

• Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ - 10am - 4pm
• Blackheath, 145 High Street, Blackheath, B65 0EA - 10am - 4pm
• Glebefields Library, St Marks Road, Tipton, DY4 0SZ - 10am - 4pm
• Oldbury Library, Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, B69 3DB - 10am - 4pm
• Smethwick Library, High Street, Smethwick, B66 1AA - 10am - 4pm
• Wednesbury Library, Walsall Street, Wednesbury, WS10 9EH - 10am - 4pm
• Jamia Mosque Anwar Trust, Windmill Lane,
• Smethwick, B66 3EU – 9am-8pm

Normal Warm Spaces opening hours return from Tuesday 3 January 2023 (including all Sandwell libraries during opening hours).

Click here for more information on Warm Spaces over Christmas.