Keep Warm
Winter can make existing health conditions worse and can also make us more vulnerable to respiratory and other serious illnesses.
People over 65 or people of any age with underlying health conditions are particularly at risk.
Sitting in a cold home for a long time can put pressure on your heart and circulation - the ideal temperature in your home is 18C - 21C (64 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit).
It is important to stay protected against a drop in temperature as cold weather can affect your body’s ability to fight off viruses and infections. By keeping warm, you can help yourself stay well this winter.
Keep moving. Try not to sit still for more than an hour at a time. Even a little bit of activity now and then can help you maintain strength and mobility.
Eat and drink well. It can sometimes be difficult to keep up the motivation to prepare meals. But it is good to try and keep to a routine where you can. Eating hot meals and drinking hot drinks regularly will help keep you warm.
Wrap up well. Wearing plenty of layers is the best way to keep warm in winter. If you are heading out, make sure you take some extra layers, even if you don’t need them immediately, as the temperature can drop significantly when the sun goes in.
Wear thick socks or slippers. Keeping your feet warm during the day and through the night will make your whole body feel warmer. For an extra cosy feel, slip on a pair of ultra-warm wool or thermal socks. (Please make sure you wear appropriate, well-fitting footwear to avoid trips or falls).
Use electric blankets, heat pads, and foot warmers. Be careful to only use your electric blanket as instructed and get it tested every three years. Never use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket.
Supported by Solihull Council, Age UK Solihull provides a local Winter Warmth Helpline. This service is primarily aimed at older people, those living with disabilities or long-term health conditions, carers, and families with young children.
Support includes:
- Information and advice, including help with benefits and debt.
- Emergency heaters if your heating breaks down or is not keeping you warm.
- Finding a tradesperson for emergency repairs
- Boiler/heating repairs and servicing
- Access to warm clothing
- Provision of electric blankets, duvets, and blankets to vulnerable residents.
Support specifically for those of State Pension Age and above includes:
- Support to access food
- Support with essential white goods
- Support with energy bills
For advice and support please ring the Winter Warmth Helpline on 0121 704 8080, 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.
Solihull libraries
Solihull libraries are making the most of the borough’s library network by offering warm and welcoming spaces for anyone needing a place to spend some time, connect with others, or to work or study.
Libraries offer a range of free or low-cost resources, events, activities and learning opportunities, and provides a safe and inclusive community space for everyone, with access to free WiFi.
Warm welcome hubs
This winter there will be lots of “Warm Welcome Hubs” being run at community centres and places of worship. These provide a safe, warm, and friendly environment with refreshments and food, opportunities to socialise and access a range of useful information and advice. They are open to all local residents and may even be able to provide transport to help you attend.
Blythe
Location: Dickens Heath Library, Old Dickens Heath Road, Dickens Heath, Shirley B90 1SD
Age group: All
Activity: Reading, arts and crafts
When: The Warm Hub will be available during all library opening hours: Monday and Tuesday 2.00-5.00pm, Wednesday to Friday (closed Thursday) 10.00-1.00pm
Contact: libraries@solihull.gov.uk
Castle Bromwich
Location: Arden Hall, Water Orton Road, B36 9PB
Age group: All
When: Monday to Friday
Chelmsley Wood
Location: Crabtree Hall, 34 Crabtree Drive, B37 5BU
Age group: 11 to 17 years old
Activity: Space for young people to be warm, relax, get involved in activities
When: Monday to Friday 3.00-6.00pm
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: bobbi@urbanheard.co.uk
Location: Three Trees, Hedingham Grove, Birmingham B37 7TP
Age group: All Adult ages
Activity: Mental Health and Advocacy Drop In
When: Every Other Monday 10.30am-12.30
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: debbie@northernstartarts.co.uk
Location: St Andrews Church, 2 Craig Croft, Birmingham B37 7TR
Age group: 16+
Activity: Grub Hub (A warm safe space to meet others in the community)
When: Friday (1st and 3rd of month) 10:30-1:30pm
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: Jane on 0121 770 1511
Location: St Andrews Church, 2 Craig Croft, Birmingham B37 7TR
Age group: Seniors
Activity: Seniors Knitting and Social Group
When: Thursday 12.00-2.00pm
Food and drink: Snacks/hot drinks
Contact: Shirley on 0121 770 1511
Location: St Andrews Church, 2 Craig Croft, Birmingham B37 7TR
Age group: 16+
Activity: The Well (parents group meets with a theme activity each week)
When: Wednesday 9.00-11.00am
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: briony@standrewschelmsleywood.com
Location: St Andrews Church, 2 Craig Croft, Birmingham B37 7TR
Age group: 8-15 years
Activity: Youth Cafe (open youth cafe with sports, games and activities)
When: Monday 3.15-5.30pm
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: andi@standrewschelmsleywood.com (Please contact the Church before sending a young person to a session)
Elmdon
Location: Solihull Moors Football Club, B91 2PP
Age group: All Adult ages
Activity: Mental Health, Board Games and Chatting
When: Tuesday and Thursday 11.00am-1.00pm
Food and drink: Soup and sandwich or hot drink and biscuit £1pp
Contact: becci.fox@solihullmoorsfc.co.uk
Fordbridge
Location: Connection Church Centre, Cooks Lane, Fordbridge, B37 6NP
Age group: 18+
Activity: Ladies session
When: Friday 10.00am-12.00
Contact: community@weareconnectionchurch.com
Location: Connection Church Centre, Cooks Lane, Fordbridge, B37 6NP
Age group: All
Activity: Cafe session
When: Wednesday 10.00am-12.00
Contact: community@weareconnectionchurch.com
Location: Connection Church Centre, Cooks Lane, Fordbridge, B37 6NP
Age group: Parents and under 5's
Activity: Play and Stay
When: Tuesday 10.00am-12.00
Contact: community@weareconnectionchurch.com
Location: Connection Church Centre, Cooks Lane, Fordbridge, B37 6NP
Age group: 18+
Activity: Lunch Club
When: Monday 12.00-2.00pm
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: community@weareconnectionchurch.com
Kingshurst
Location: Re-Imagine Me CIC, Overgreen Drive, Kingshurst B37 6EY
Age group: 18+
Activity: Men's Group
When: Tuesday 1.00-2.30pm
Food and drink: Biscuits and cake available
Contact: info@reimaginemecic.org
Location: Seeds of Hope, Overgreen Drive, Kingshurst B37 6EY
Age group: All
Activity: Afternoon coffee
When: Thursday 1.00-3.00pm
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: soh@btconnect.com
Location: Seeds of Hope, Overgreen Drive, Kingshurst B37 6EY
Age group: All
Activity: Lunch Club
When: first Friday of the month 10.00-2.00pm, (Feb and March only)
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: soh@btconnect.com
Meriden
Location: St Peter's Church, Holly Lane, Balsall Common, Coventry, CV7 7EA
Age group: All
Activity: Warm Welcome, wifi, charging phones, can work from church, activities such as games, craft - knitting and crochet, drawing/colouring, jigsaw, sit and chat
When: Thursday 2.00-4.00pm
Food and drink: Hot drinks, biscuits and (sometimes) cakes
Contact: moiranancy@gmail.com
Location: Balsall Common Methodist Church, Station Road, Balsall Common, CV7 7EE
Age group: All
Activity: Warm Welcome, wifi, charging phones, can work from church, activities such as games, craft - knitting and crochet, drawing/colouring, jigsaw, sit and chat
When: Monday 9.30-11.30am and Friday 2.00-4.00pm
Food and drink: Hot drinks, biscuits and (sometimes) cakes
Contact: jane.braund@methodist.org.uk
Location: Meriden Methodist Church, 107 Main Road, Meriden, Coventry, CV7 7NH
Age group: All
Activity: activities such as jigsaws and games and ability to charge phones.
When: Wednesday 12.30-2.30pm (from January 2024)
Food and drink: Hot soup (available at lunch time), drinks, fruit, cakes
Contact: jane.braund@methodist.org.uk
Olton
Location: St Margaret's Church Hall, St Margaret's Road, Olton, Solihull B92 7JS
Age group: All
Activity: Chatting
When: Wednesday 11.30am-2.30pm
Food and drink: Home made soup, tea and coffee
Contact: stmargaretolton@googlemail.com
Location: Solihull and District Hebrew Congregation, Monastry Drive, Solihull B91 1DW
Age group: Seniors
Activity: Coffee/tea/cake and biscuits (hot meal on a Thursday)
When: Sunday 9.00am-12.00, Thursday 9.00-3.00pm (Hot Meal), Friday 3.00-7.00pm, Saturday 9.00-3.00pm
Food and drink: Coffee/tea/cake and biscuits (hot meal on a Thursday)
Contact: rabbipink@gmail.com
Silhill
Location: Inclusive Sports Academy CIC, Renewal Conference Centre, Lode Lane, Solihull, B91 2JR
Age group: Families with SEND
Activity: Activities for families with SEND
When: Every Wednesday 5.00-7.00pm
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: andy@inclusivesportsacademy.org
Smith'sWood
Location: CARS Auckland Hall, Sunbeam Close, Smith's Wood, B36 9JR
Age group: All
Activity: We have a variety of different sessions running while our Warm Welcomes are on including speakers from different organisations including Diabetes, Fibromyalgia and Alzheimer’s Society amongst a variety of other classes such as cooking on a budget, Vitamins and Minerals and more
When: Every other Thursday 10.00am-12:30
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: charleneh@colebridge.org
St Alphege
Location: Marie Curie West Midlands, Support & Wellbeing Hub, Marsh Lane,Solihull, B91 2PQ
Age group: All
Activity: Wifi, games, books, socialising
When: Every Saturday 10.30am-12:30 (until 30 March 2024)
Food and drink: Free hot drinks available. Cafe open for food to purchase
Contact: hannah.nolan@mariecurie.org.uk
Location: The Snooty Pooch, Windy Alley, 50 Drury Lane, Solihull B91 3BH
Age group: All
When: Monday to Friday 11.00-4.00pm
Food and drink: Hot food available
Contact: woof@thesnootypooch.co.uk