The Community Living Room was set up in late 2022 after energy costs had gone up sharply, partly due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The original intention was to create a ‘warm room’ – somewhere for people to go if they needed to save money on heating their home.
It quickly became clear that while warmth might be welcome, the real demand was for a social hub for local people to meet and catch up over a cup of tea. It’s well documented that social isolation is an issue that affects both mental and physical health, especially for older people.
Up until 2025/26, West Northamptonshire Council offered a grant to cover winter running costs, which has been much appreciated. We hope a grant will be available again in winter 2026/27, as the Living Room does rely on this funding. Any additional costs not met by the grant are covered by the Parish Council.
Perhaps confusingly, the Community Living Room is an initiative, not a place. In fact it happens in three places in the village, partly building on things that were already being offered by the community.
On Monday mornings the Living Room is at Bugbrooke Church. There was an existing Church Coffee Morning which was simply wrapped into the Living Room idea, enabling the church to receive a contribution to heating costs in the winter from the WNC grant.
On Tuesday afternoons the Living Room is at Jubilee House, Meadway. This was set up from scratch by volunteers Jane Wood and Marie Louch.
On Thursday afternoons the Living Room is at Bugbrooke Chapel on the High Street. This built on an existing coffee afternoon run by the Chapel congregation – with financial support for heating costs and additional volunteer help, the previously fortnightly event was increased to weekly and the opening hours extended.
At all three venues the intention is the same – to provide a place for local people to meet up with old friends and make new ones.
It’s open to anyone and free of charge, thanks to the volunteers, the Parish Council and West Northamptonshire Council. Hot drinks, cakes and biscuits are on offer, and at Jubilee House and the Chapel there are also board games to join in with.
The weekly timetable:
- Monday morning 10:00-11:30 at Bugbrooke Church
- Tuesday afternoon 1:30-5:00 at Jubilee House
- Thursday afternoon 2:00-5:00 at Bugbrooke Chapel
At Bugbrooke Chapel on Thursdays we also have regular visitors to provide advice and answer questions:
- West Northamptonshire Council Customer Services team
- West Northamptonshire Council Highways (Kier)
- Parish Council
- West Northamptonshire Community Connect
The dates and times when these organisations are present is published in the LINK magazine and advertised on the village Facebook page.