Ministers are being urged to provide urgent new funding so public buildings can cope with an increase in visitors in the colder months. The buildings will be part of a nationwide network that will provide warm shelter to help reduce excess winter deaths linked to freezing conditions. The call for support to ensure key public buildings can keep their doors open comes as organizations across the country face huge increases in energy bills. A group of care homes told the Observer that annual energy bills are rising from £1.5m a year to £7.7m. Alistair Brown, director of policy at the Museums Association, which represents the museum sector, said: “Museums will be building to respond to this crisis, but many will be struggling to heat their own spaces. “The world is beginning to understand the magnitude of the crisis and we do not want to reduce the opening hours of the museums.” The Catalyst Science Discovery Center and Museum in Widnes, Cheshire, said last week that the bid to renew its annual gas contract had risen from £9,700 to £54,362. Isobel Hunter, chief executive of Libraries Connected, which represents the public library sector, said: “Central Government should provide councils with extra funding this winter to deal with rising energy costs, which would help ensure that libraries will remain open as vital warm shelters for their communities. “ Paul Drumm, of GLL, a social enterprise charity that runs libraries in Greenwich, south-east London, said the borough’s libraries had already spent £28,000 on new seating and other furniture to prepare for an increase in visitors in the winter months. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. He said: “We know very well the huge impact the energy crisis will have on many living in the local community. We will promote our libraries as designated ‘warm spaces’ for those who cannot afford to heat their homes.” Libraries and museums will be part of a national network of hotspots provided by local councils, community groups and charities. South Cambridgeshire District Council issued a tender earlier this month for a contract to deliver “a range of warm hubs from community buildings” to support those at risk of the cold. Meanwhile, Care England, which represents 4,500 care services, said operators are facing up to 500% rises in energy costs, with some considering reducing the number of older people they take in from hospital wards or closing care homes to survive. “Care services across the country will have to close this winter unless the government takes immediate action. Some providers simply won’t be able to continue – they will go bust,” said Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England. “There is no cap on energy costs for care homes and care home residents do not receive any rebate from the government.” Analysis by consultancy BoxPower shows care homes were paying the equivalent of £700 per bed in energy costs each year. But this month, homes are being penalized £4,027 per bed for those looking to buy energy from October. This is an increase of approximately 437% in energy costs per bed over a 12-month period. Brunelcare, which provides sheltered housing for 1,400 people and runs seven care homes in Bristol and Somerset, was this month forced to sign a new £7.7m annual energy contract because prices were rising by £100,000 a day. The charity paid out around £1.5m a year until last year. “We are in an absolutely impossible situation,” said Oona Goldsworthy, chief executive of Brunelcare. “I’ve had one of the worst weeks ever and I’ve been through Covid so I know what tough times are like. We are completely abandoned again.” A government spokesman said it had made £3.7 billion of extra funding available to local authorities, which they can spend on adult social care. “No national government can control the global factors driving up the price of energy, but we will continue to support businesses, including care homes, to navigate the coming months,” a spokesman said. Principals say they are facing a “double whammy” of rising energy bills and an increased 5% pay rise for teachers. A chief executive at a multi-academy trust, who oversees a number of the city’s secondary schools, and asked not to be named, said: “I’m already down to bare bones support staff. We will not be replacing any staff as they leave.” Its schools are already putting two classes of children together to fill temporary staffing gaps. Dan Morrow, chief executive of the Dartmoor multi-academy trust in Devon, said it was now a “race to the bottom” for schools and the effects on children “will be profound for generations”. His trust needs to find an extra £800,000 for utility bills this year and £900,000 for pay rises.
