Cost of Living Support – signposting information
An increasing number of Dorset residents are struggling to manage rising household costs, particularly food and fuel. Both councils have a number of initiatives to support residents (If there’s only one link, that means the service covers both council areas).
Household Support Fund – Food Vouchers during School Holidays
Food vouchers are available to cover each of the school holidays over the winter months up to and including Easter Holidays. The value of the voucher will be £15 per child for the week, so £30 for the two week holidays. The vouchers are distributed via Schools and the Family Information Service in BCP Welcome to the Family Information Service (bcpcouncil.gov.uk) and Dorset Family Information Service – Dorset Council
Cost of living information
As the cost of living increases it is important to be aware of the benefits, payments and support options available. There are local and national schemes that can help with rent, food, energy and more. The government has a national cost of living hub which can be found here Cost of living support – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). In addition there is a range of local support which is available for residents of BCP here: www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/costofliving and Dorset residents here Cost of living help – Dorset Council
Energy Advice and Support
Eligible households can also benefit from a visit form an energy advisor who will support them with ways to reduce their bills, including loft and insulation grants, accessing energy saving advice and in some instances provide a new boiler depending on circumstances. Full details can be found here: LEAP Home Visit | Ridgewater Energy
Access to Food
There are a number of options for accessing community food support and these are detailed for BCP residents here: Community support if you are struggling to pay for food (bcpcouncil.gov.uk) and Dorset residents here: Food Banks and Affordable Food Projects in Dorset (helpandkindness.co.uk)
Frontline staff in BCP may want to download the Access to Food map which details all the offers of community food support across BCP along with the locations and opening times so that you can find support quickly: Food Map (v88.co.uk)
Safe and Well visits
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service offer free Safe & Well advice, which can include a home visit and the provision of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. To request this for yourself, a family member or a vulnerable person, please call them FREE on 0800 038 2323 (leave a message and someone will call you back) or visit www.dwfire.org.uk/safe-and-well-visits
A Warm Welcome network
We are supporting the development of a network of warm welcome spaces across Dorset and BCP, where residents who struggle to keep their homes warm can go and keep warm in a welcoming space. Details of current Warm Welcome spaces in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can be found here: Warm welcome spaces (bcpcouncil.gov.uk), and Dorset here: Warm Welcomes in Dorset – Cost of Living Crisis Community Support (helpandkindness.co.uk)
Food & Winter Resilience Support HERE
