Warm Spaces

Risk Management in Warm Spaces

When setting up your Warm Space, there will be important considerations in relation to health and safety, safeguarding and potentially food safety/hygiene.

1. Risk Management

• Undertake a risk assessment of the location and planned activities.
• Ensure that you deal with any risks identified in the risk assessment.
• Check your insurance to make sure that you are covered for all new activities.

2. Suitability / location

• Review the suitability of the location, i.e. access, parking, etc.
• Review the general accessibility and disabled access, alarm systems and fire safety/emergency measures, e.g. exits/evacuation.
• Identify the number you can safely accommodate with appropriate health and safety measures and mitigate any risks identified.

3. Health and Safety Management

• Identify, implement and communicate policies and proportionate training in relation to:
  • Security
  • Health and safety 
  • Welfare arrangements 
  • Food safety
  • Fire safety
  • First aid/defibrillator use.

• Health & safety obligations - Safer Places of Worship
• Further specialist training may be required if guests are vulnerable (see Safeguarding).

4. Safeguarding

• Carry out DBS checks on workers where appropriate. 
• Avoid lone working where possible
• Safeguarding vulnerable persons & children - Safer Places of Worship

5. Opening Times

• Consider whether you will open on evenings or weekends (and what resource will be needed to ensure this can be run safely)

6. Activities and Services

• Obtain any licences/registration that may be needed for activities e.g. food preparation, etc
• Cafes, serving food & soup kitchens - Safer Places of Worship

For further guidance on Warm Spaces, please see the Warm Welcome Campaign guide.