Hot weather

This is what the council is doing in this hot weather.

The severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) has been triggered and this sets out what the council is doing as a result of the protocol.

• SWEP is a discretionary service provided by Councils as a humanitarian response to extreme temperatures. Cambridge City Ccouncil (CCC) run a winter SWEP and a Summer SWEP. Winter provides accommodation as standard during these cold periods. In the Summer, CCC run a traffic light system. Our response depends on the local temperatures and the warnings provided by the UK Health Security Agency. On the 22nd June, the Homeless Prevention & Solutions Manager initiated Summer SWEP by calling an amber alert. This means that the Homeless Prevention & Solutions Manager contacts partner agencies to start the process and receive updates throughout the day. The response is co-ordinated by the Council and involves our partners – Wintercomfort, Jimmy’s Cambridge, It Takes a City, Change Grow Live and St Andrew’s Baptist Church. Multiple daily street shifts are completed to carry out welfare checks, provide supplies, and encourage people to take offers of support. Cool spaces are provided at St Andrew’s Baptist Church and Wintercomfort.

• On the 22nd June, the Homeless Prevention & Solutions Manager received an alert from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that they were calling a red alert between 1AM on 24/06/2026 until 11PM on 25/06/2026 (alerts are now in place from 4pm on Wednesday 24 June until 11pm on Friday 26 June). The alerts are based upon the matrix below.

• When the UKHSA provides an update to the Homeless Prevention & Solutions Manager and the number falls within the amber range, the Homeless Prevention & Solutions Manager initiates the amber alert and coordinates the response. When the UKHSA provides an update with the number 16, then a ‘red’ alert is called. This is communicated to partners by the Homeless Prevention & Solutions Manager and to the public via the Communications team/social media. The response is the same as the amber alert; however, accommodation is also provided to ‘vulnerable’ rough sleepers. All rough sleepers are vulnerable; however, this is a humanitarian response to avoid a threat to life, so there are some rough sleepers who would be more susceptible to high temperatures. This follows MHCLG guidance by prioritising the Target Priority Group.

• Once the red alert was issued by UKHSA, a list of people believed to be rough sleeping based upon received intelligence, along with individuals verified as rough sleeping, was compiled. CCC and partner agencies are familiar with rough sleepers and their vulnerabilities. Ten individuals have been offered accommodation directly. Three individuals were offered a ‘reconnections offer’ (accommodation and support to return home). Seven individuals have been offered the option to take accommodation. Ten individuals have not been offered anything (due to risks to other service users, lack of vulnerabilities, or because they have historically not taken offers of accommodation).
• Further information about SWEP can be found on CCC’s website. Hot weather support for homeless people – Cambridge City Council.

Note that the council is also working hard towards a net zero target which is our bit towards the reduction in the occurrence of these heatwaves. Of course this is very long term.