‘IT is not an exaggeration to say that people are having to choose whether to eat or heat...’

So says Jackie O’Brien, general manager of the Alice Cross Centre as the team at the caring centre prepares to launch its Heat Café.

Jackie adds: ‘As we start to feel the weather cooling, householders are preparing themselves for one of the most financially difficult winters for years.

‘Even with the £400 rebate towards energy costs, we are likely to see an increase of £823 on an annual energy bill plus the highest inflation in years is pushing up the price of food considerably.’

In response to the cost of living crisis The Alice Cross are joining the national initiative to provide a warm place for the community to come if they can’t afford to heat their home.

‘We are launching our weekly Heat Café on October 13 from 2pm to 4.30pm.

‘We will be providing nourishing hot food for a donation and a welcoming place to come and relax,’ says Jackie.

‘Books, games and ipads will be provided and people can just come and socialise over coffee and cake or a warm meal.’

More dates will be added as winter progresses.

Neil Howell, an Alice cross supporter for many years, has taken this cause to heart and has this week set off to walk the Portuguese Camino Way from Oporto in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a total of 270km in 12 full days.

So far, he has raised £1,375 towards the Heat café. If you would like to sponsor him, you can do so by visiting: www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/caminoforalice.

‘The new incentive of the Heat Cafe at The Alice reflects the challenges of the era we find ourselves in,’ said Viv Wilson MBE and former manager.

‘Teignmouth is rising to that challenge with the voluntary sector and local councillors coming together to work out the best way that support can be provided.’

‘Together we will get through this winter and do our utmost to make sure that nobody goes cold or hungry,’ says Jackie O’Brien.

‘Do pop along to our Heat Café opening on the 13th October, sample the food and enjoy some company. We look forward to welcoming you.’

The Alice Cross Centre is at 1-3 Bitton Park Road, Teignmouth, TQ14 9BT

► Telephone 01626 778039

► Website: www.thealicecross.co.uk

► Facebook: www.facebook.co.uk/alicecrosscentre