Warm Welcome Spaces Across Waltham Forest

From the 1st of December 2025 to 13th March 2026 leisure centres operated by Better across Waltham Forest are encouraging residents to attend the Warm Welcome Spaces. It is part of a UK wide scheme to tackle issues from the cost-of-living crisis mainly the expense of heating homes and to reduce social isolation particularly for the increasingly ageing population.  

In Waltham Forest, there is a Warm Welcome Space every working day of the week in the leisure centres we operate. If you include spaces in our centres which are delivered by our community partner, Leyton Orient Trust, there are 7 locations across the borough that people can visit to get a free hot drink and more.   
In addition to keeping locals warm we want to get older adults socialising so provide board games and cards. If that’s not enough, how about we get you moving, with options such as Pilates, Table Tennis, and Short Mat Bowls. Activities offered vary by location. If you are attending a free class, please allow time to manually register.    

The programme is shown below: 

Monday 

Score Leisure Centre (Leyton Orient Trust) 12pm-3pm 
Chair Based Exercise 12pm-1pm followed by hot drinks and food  

Tuesday 

Walthamstow Leisure Centre (GLL) 10.30am-1pm 
Pilates, Bat and Chat (table tennis), and hot drinks.  

Wednesday 

Chingford Leisure Centre (GLL) 11am-1pm 
Bat and Chat, board games and hot drinks 

Leyton Leisure Centre (GLL) 
11.30am-2pm  
Hot drinks and board games  

Thursday 

Better Gym Walthamstow Stadium (Leyton Orient Trust) 12pm-3pm 
Chair Based Exercise 12pm-1pm followed by hot drinks and food 

Friday  

Leytonstone Leisure Centre (GLL) 9.30am-12pm 
Hot drinks and board games  

Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre (GLL) 10.30am-12.30pm  
Short Mat Bowls, Senior Multi Sport and hot drinks 

Whilst the sessions are aimed at older adults, they are welcome to anyone who feels they can benefit from the service be it for the hot beverage or the connectivity.  

A representative from Warm Welcome UK said, “The difference the spaces make to communities is remarkable; they bring connection, friendship, and human warmth, helping people feel less isolated and lonely and boosting wellbeing.” 

Our Warm Welcome Spaces sessions are for everyone in our community, so please help us spread the information and share this article in resident groups, through work contacts or on your social media.