Cool Hub Project

Supporting community health and wellbeing during heatwaves was identified and prioritised at our assemblies. Vulnerable people are particularly at risk, and more people than usual get seriously ill or die during periods of extreme heat.

The Cool Hub Project has been designed to provide local people in need with support. This could be cold water or sun cream from a mobile Cool Station, or a cool space to get respite from uncomfortable heat. This project's Cool Hub network is a network of places in Exeter that welcome people who need to cool down during a heatwave. The project also aims to provide information about how to look after yourself and those around you when the weather is very hot.

We launched in the summer of 2025 - look out for our pop-up Cool Hub in Exeter City Centre when the thermometer starts to rise into the red!

Cool Hub Network - Opening Times

St Sidwell's Community Centre, Sidwell St, Exeter EX4 6NN

• 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday

Mint Methodist Church, Fore St, Exeter, EX4 3AT

• 10am to 12pm, Monday to Thursday

Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Queen St, Exeter, EX4 3RX

• 10am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday

• and 10:30am to 5pm on Tuesday

Tips on looking after yourself and others during hot weather

• • Stay hydrated and keep cool

  • Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm

  • Wear light clothing and sun cream SPF 30+

  • Check on neighbours, especially the elderly or unwell

  • Know the signs of heat exhaustion – confusion, dizziness and nausea

NHS advice for coping with hot weather. 

Why do we have more heatwaves now?

Heatwaves are now 30 times more likely because of the higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Continuing to burn fossil fuels means we’ll experience more heatwaves and even higher temperatures.

(Source - Met Office)

“The only way to avoid even more extreme heat is to rapidly phase out fossil fuels." 

- Prof. James Dyke, climate scientist, University of Exeter.

Video about heatwaves by scientist and journalist, Dr. Adam Levy.