More help for struggling households this winter
People in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can apply for food and fuel vouchers
The Household Support Fund scheme has been extended by the government until 31 March 2023.
Applications for BCP Council’s residents will be managed by Citizens Advice BCP, based on eligibility for food and fuel vouchers.
Vouchers will be given out to applicants on a first-come-first-served basis so it is recommended that residents apply via the Citizens Advice BCP website as soon as possible in order to secure their voucher.
Only one person can apply per household and the voucher will be sent to the named applicant or an individual named by them to accept on their behalf.
During the Winter 2021 phase of the Household Support Fund, which ran from October 2021 to March 2022, Citizens Advice BCP supported 9,166 households with access to community food providers, vouchers and help with keeping warm.
Citizens Advice BCP also offers free guidance on a range of topics via its Adviceline service at 0808 2787 939 and its Community Advice Vehicle, which provides a mobile outreach service and regular visits in local neighbourhoods.
The vouchers are being offered alongside a range of other food and energy support to help households keep warm and access affordable energy support, such as home insulation grants, energy advice home visits and emergency repairs. BCP Council is working with a range of partners to help people keep warm, such as providing a ÂŁ10,000 grant to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service to provide electric blankets during Safe and Well visits.
The Household Support Fund is funding a BCP Food and Winter Warmth Support Fund, administered through Dorset Community Foundation, to build capacity within the local voluntary and community sector for essential support to help residents access food and keep warm over the winter, through initiatives such as warm welcome spaces.
BCP Access to Food partnership actively looks at ways to help local residents access food during the winter months, working closely with foodbanks, social supermarkets and pantries and local food projects to work together to help communities. There are a range of initiatives that enable residents to access fresh and hot nutritious food, as well as improving access to cooking equipment and skills.
Councillor Jane Kelly, Lead Member for Communities, said: “We are delighted by the extension to the Household Support Fund scheme, which has helped thousands of households to afford essential items since its launch in 2021.
“We thank our partners for their tireless work over the past few years to support communities with the rise in the cost of living and we continue to encourage anyone who is struggling financially to reach out for help. There is support in place to help you and your family.”