Help the homeless stay warm in Lewisham this winter with the hot water bottle project

Temperatures have already hit sub-zero this winter, and inspired by other water bottle networks nationwide, local community group CatfordCares has decided to bring the idea to south east London.

The group of local residents have donated the first hot water bottles and tied them to the trees and fences in Rushey Green, and are also inviting others from the community to do the same.

Those who need to can pick up one of these bottles and take them to a number of filling stations where local businesses signed up to the scheme will then refill it with hot water.

The grassroots project originated in Brighton, aimed at helping rough sleepers and those living in fuel poverty to "bear the worst of the cold."

CatfordCares hung the first few water bottles by the trees on Rushey Green this week, but are inviting others to create and donate their own personalised bottles along with a pre-filled template explaining how and where you can refill them.

An organiser explained how the idea had come about during a discussion about the visible increase in homeless people in Catford.

"We were particularly concerned about those that we have met who are from Eastern Europe, don’t speak English and therefore can’t access hostels or know how the British system works and how they can get appropriate support," they said.

After reading about other tried and tested hot water bottle networks, they thought why not bring it to Catford.

Anyone can hang a hot water bottle at the green or their chosen location, or drop one off at Lewisham Local at PLACE Ladywell.