Below is some information on Cost of Living support across BCP & Dorset
Access to food Map Food Map (v88.co.uk)
Warm spaces Find a Warm Welcome Space Today
Food banks Find a Food Bank – The Trussell Trust
Martin Lewis website Money Saving Expert: Energy Help, Credit Cards, Flight Delays, Shopping and more
BCP Council cost of living web support hub – Cost of living help (bcpcouncil.gov.uk)
As per previous newsletter. BCP Council recently launched a dedicated cost of living hub on their website, which residents are encouraged to visit to find out more about how they are working with partner organisations to meet increased demand for key services. They will continue to post updates about their support as new information becomes available.
Dorset Council cost of living help – www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/cost-of-living-help
Dorset Council can offer free, confidential and impartial support on:
- money worries
- accessing affordable food
- housing and employment rights
- looking after your mental health
Money worries take up lots of headspace, leaving you with much less mental energy and time to make good decisions about your money. Remembering to look after yourself can also be hard. Talking to someone can help point you in the right direction and provide the strength to tackle problems. Reach out early for whatever help you need if you are struggling in any way. If small problems have already become bigger ones, get support now.
Citizens Advice Central Dorset
Here is the link to this week’s E-news, from Caroline (Citizens Advice): https://advicedorset.org.uk/for-advice-providers/news-events/advice-dorset-partnership-e-news-no-16-17-november-2022/
Family Information – 18 November 2022
Lots of great BCP information here, from new Family Hubs to Warm Spaces and Household Support Fund to Childcare.
Cost of Living Payment management information – GOV.UK
Ad-hoc release of management information on the number of Cost of Living Payments processed by the government. Updated the table about the second payment of the Cost of Living Payment – this now shows payments processed by DWP on 8, 9, 10 and 11 November 2022.
DWP has created a short video answering key questions we have received about ‘Winter Fuel Payment’. The video is available on the YouTube channel now.
We recognise that there is widespread concern about rising energy costs. As a result we have experienced more citizens searching for information about Winter Fuel Payments and/or contacting DWP to ask about it. Most eligible citizens do not have to claim the Winter Fuel Payment as it is awarded automatically. We would encourage you to share this helpful Help for Households video, to help answer frequently asked questions from citizens about Winter Fuel Payment. Further British Sign Language and Welsh Language versions will be available soon.
The Pension Credit Toolkit for people who work with pensioners has been updated. It includes two YouTube videos, social media images you can use to promote Pension Credit, posters and flyer zip files in English and Welsh. Please can you and your stakeholders/partners share the Toolkit to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit.
Both Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council are offering Household Support Funding for those in financial difficulties
BCP CAB is open for applications from the 1st November on their website Household Support Fund – Citizens Advice Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole (citizensadvicebcp.org.uk)
Dorset is open for applications on the 4th November on the council website Household Support Fund – Dorset Council
