A North East building society are opening their branches' doors across the region to help keep people warm during the cost of living crisis.

Newcastle Building Society (NBS) are planning to open their doors across the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

The network of 31 branches includes 14 community rooms which will be used to help people keep warm this winter.

NBS said they have taken this action in the knowledge people are struggling with rising fuel and household bills, and to help provide free spaces to those who might struggle to stay warm in this period.

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Stuart Fearn, Head of Customer Contact at Newcastle Building Society, said: “As temperatures fall and heating costs rise, our extensive network of branches throughout the North of England are here to play a small part in enabling community groups to continue to meet and connect in a safe, warm space.

"Without having to worry about the expense of home heating whilst with us. 

"Newcastle Building Society is absolutely committed to our communities, and keen to play our part in supporting people through the cost of living crisis.”

The building society said their free community spaces would serve as an ideal spot for small groups to book and use as warm spaces.

Adding to this, the organisation said their would be hot drinks available to those in these areas.

Meanwhile, they said these community rooms had previously been open as free meeting facilities local groups.

These spaces are available at Newcastle Building Society’s branches in Ashington, Berwick, Bishop Auckland, Carlisle, Gateshead, Gosforth, Hexham, Middlesbrough, Morpeth, Newcastle, South Shields, West Denton, Whickham, and Whitley Bay. 

Stephen Burt, branch manager at Newcastle Building Society’s Ashington branch, said: “The community space in our Ashington branch has been popular with a range of different groups, clubs and charities over the past few years and now the weather is turning colder, it’ll be a welcoming, warm hub for people to get together.”

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NBS supports a range of local charities and community groups through its Community Fund at the Community Foundation Tyne and Wear & Northumberland. 

One of the areas of focus has been funding charities that help tackle food poverty, including supporting the beneficiaries of Wansbeck Valley Food Bank in Morpeth, Hexham-based West Northumberland Food Bank and Newcastle West End Food Bank.

To book a community space, visit NSB's website.

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