'Warm Spaces' offer extended to include free cinema tickets this winter

Free cinema tickets will be on offer for families to enjoy while keeping warm this winter.

ARC Stockton will be putting on the cinema showings at the venue on Saturday afternoons until the end of January.

The tickets - which are for residents of the Borough - are being funded by local hair care company Additional Lengths with support from other businesses in the Stockton Business Improvement District (BID).

This is the latest addition to the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council-led "Warm Spaces" initiative launched in October.

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: "We've had a great response since the Warm Spaces scheme was launched in October and now more than 50 buildings have thrown open their doors to help our residents.

"This cinema offer is a great addition and I know our 'Fairer Stockton-on-Tees' team have been working hard with a range of partners across the public and private sector to get this sorted.

"In total there'll be more than 1,000 tickets and it's heartening to know what a difference it will make for families who will be able to stay warm this winter."

Annabel Turpin, Chief Executive and Artistic Director, ARC, said: "We are delighted to work with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Additional Lengths to help families out this winter.

"Having a cinema in the town centre is a real asset for Stockton, and we are looking forward to welcoming lots of people to ARC over the next few weeks, including some who may not have visited us before. We have lots of fabulous films planned!"

Victoria Lynch, Owner of Additional Lengths, said: "It's such a privilege to be able to sponsor such a great event that helps families across the Borough at such a crucial financial time of the year. 

"As soon as I heard about the 'Warm Spaces' scheme, contributing a small amount wasn't enough for me! I jumped in to sponsor the full event which runs over eight weeks, to ensure that families and children can enjoy some time together in a warm and cosy environment at such a difficult time. 

"As a heart-warming gesture, I hope everyone enjoys the scheme and looks forward to the festive season as much as possible. Community is everything!"

When will the free cinema showings be on?

The cinema showings will be from this Saturday (November 26) until Saturday, January 28 at 4.30pm.

This is excluding Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Which films are being shown?

The films being shown are as follows:

November 26 - Home Alone

December 03 - Arthur Christmas

December 10 - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (5pm)

December 17 - Elf

January 07 - Frozen 2 

January 14 - Sing 2

January 21 - Peter Rabbit 2

January 28 - Moana

How do I get the free tickets?

Some of the tickets will be distributed by the Borough's Family Hubs, with the rest available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets will be released each Monday, with the exception of this week's tickets which are available from today (Wednesday, November 23).

They can be booked by visiting ARC box office or calling 01642 525199 from 12pm until 4pm on a Monday, from 10am until 4pm on a Tuesday and from 10am until 8pm on a Wednesday to Saturday.

There's a maximum of six tickets available per booking.

Where can I found out more about the Warm Spaces?

To find out more, visit the Warm Spaces web page.

Information on benefits, food banks, free school meals, help with school uniform costs and more can be found on the Cost of Living Support page of the Council's website.

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