Social cafes are being set up across Fife in local community sports and leisure facilities to help people over the winter months with the financial and wellbeing issues associated with the cost-of-living crisis.

Thanks to partnership working between the area’s leading provider of sports and leisure services, charitable trust, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, and Fife Council, free Winter Wellness Cafes will open next week (week commencing October 31) for people to meet once a week in a warm space, have a hot drink, biscuit, social interaction, and the chance to get active.

The six-month project is being delivered with £35, 000 investment by the council and will be led by the trust’s health team who are also responsible for the organisation’s award-winning health and wellbeing programme which supports people living with long-term health conditions.

Fiona Prendergast, health and wellbeing manager for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming people along to the Winter Wellness Cafes – not only will they give a warm space for a few hours, but those attending can take the opportunity to chat with others and enjoy informal activities such as table tennis, indoor curling, board games and short exercise sessions.

“We know from our experience of delivering the health and wellbeing programme to people living with long-term health conditions, that talking to others and getting active have a huge impact on people’s health and wellbeing outcomes.”

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust’s health team get ready to welcome visitors to the Winter Wellness Cafes (l to r) Louise Mackay, Health & Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Lawrence Mitchel, Health & Wellbeing Advisor, Gavin Keith, Health & Wellbeing Advisor and Agnes Mehaffey, Health & Wellbeing Administrator.

Cllr Linda Erskine, Fife Council spokesperson for Communities and Leisure Services, said: “We know that the rising cost of living is impacting on more people every day and it’s going to be a difficult winter for many. As a council we can’t fix everything, but we are supporting where we can.

“We know the benefits that these warm spaces can provide – and that’s not just physical and financial benefits – the benefits for people’s mental and emotional well-being are huge. With the trust, we are providing people with space to get warm, meet others, have a chat, enjoy some activities and most of all, not feel so alone.

“This is just one of a range of measures we are helping to put in place in our communities. Working with other Fife partners, voluntary organisations and community groups we have brought together advice, information and support to help everyone get through this crisis.”

The Winter Wellness Cafes will be available at East Sands Leisure Centre, Cupar Leisure Centre, Levenmouth Swimming Pool and Sports Centre, Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre, Carnegie Leisure Centre and Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre.

Click here for further information and times of the Winter Wellness Cafes, or visit our.fife.scot/gethelp for more details