Introduction
Somerset families and residents who are struggling to pay the bills this winter could be eligible for support with the cost of food, energy, water, and other essentials over the coming months.
Somerset Council will be distributing £3.8m to those in need between October 2024 and March 2025 as part of the Government’s Household Support Fund.
Find out what support is available to Somerset residents this winter on our Apply for the Somerset Household Support Fund page.
The Household Support Fund ‘Help Through Winter’ programme is funded by Somerset Council, working alongside partners across education and the VCFSE sector to deliver essential support to families and residents.
Support for Somerset households
Here are some ways to get help and support this winter.
- You can get help with income maximisation, welfare checks, advice and managing money, such as help with budgeting on the Citizens Advice Somerset General Advice page.
- Visit a Talking Café for advice and support from your local Village Agent on anything that is worrying you, or if you just want a friendly chat.
- Age UK gives some useful support on how to carry out assessments for DWP benefits for older people.
- Find out whether you are eligible for vouchers to help you pay your gas and electricity or food bills as well as help towards paying for food, supermarket food vouchers which you can use in all major supermarkets, visit our Apply for the Somerset Household Support Fund.
- If you need help with food costs for your children over the school holidays, contact your child’s school office. They will be able to provide further information on how to claim and access your vouchers.
- Find out about food banks in your area, by visiting The Local Pantry Network in Somerset or the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership – Happy Healthy Holidays Programme pages.
- For information on Surviving Winter grants to older people experiencing fuel poverty, visit Age UK Somerset, Community Council for Somerset or Citizens Advice Somerset – Help through winter.
- Somerset Help Through Winter Grants will be distributed by Citizen Advice Somerset to support vulnerable families this winter. It includes funding for school uniform. For more information, visit Help Through Winter – Citizens Advice Somerset
- Move In Fund grants, distributed by Somerset Community Foundation, to support the homeless in making a house and home by helping to fund essential furniture such as white goods and mattresses as well as carpets.
Community hub support
The Household Support Fund is supporting a number of existing community hubs to keep doing their fantastic work this winter through the Somerset Community Foundation.
We are offering free activities with food across Somerset during the school holidays. A great chance to provide enrichment, new experiences, new friends for you or your family, visit the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership – Happy Healthy Holidays Programme to find out more.
Warm hubs are being opened to help vulnerable people during the winter months. Find your nearest Warm Space on the Spark Somerset website or you can find information about Age UK Somerset – Activities and events here
Other support for Somerset communities
In addition to the Household Support Fund, the following support is available for Somerset communities:
- Help4All – Information and advice, including food support for families and residents, parenting support, support with isolation and loneliness and more on the Help4All website.
- Libraries – All Somerset libraries have been designated as Warm Welcome Spaces, which means anyone in the community is welcome to come and spend time in the library. Find a local library.
- Pension Credit – Residents are also encouraged to check if they could be eligible for Pension Credit, which provides extra money to help with living costs for people over state pension age and on a low income. Apply online on GOV.UK or phone the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.