.
SUPPORT
FOR HAMPSHIRE’S COMMUNITIES
The ‘connect4communities’ programme, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund, aims to ensure that Hampshire families who are struggling financially have access to support for food, energy and water bills.
This support is not only for households who receive benefits but also for anyone on a low income.
The grant criteria for the Household Support Fund stipulates:
· At least 33.3% families with children (33%) and
· At least 33.3% pensioners (33%)
· up to 33.3% on all other types of households such as individuals.
SUPPORT ON OFFER
1. Support with Gas, Electric & Water Bills
If fuel and utility bills take up a high proportion of a household’s weekly income, they may be eligible for support and should contact their Local Citizens Advice office.
Local Citizens Advice across Hampshire have been provided funding to offer households with direct financial support to pay gas, water and/or electricity bills, potentially including arrears. The value of any individual funding award will be dependent upon individual circumstances assessed by Citizens Advice.
List of Local Citizens Advice: Local CA offices | citahants.org
For more information: Support with gas electric and water bills | Children and Families | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
1.
Support for Food
Hampshire County Council is allocating the funds available to children and families to offer various forms of support to families who are facing financial hardship and struggling to pay for food and fuel.
These supportive measures will be delivered from early June through a number of local organisations, including schools and education settings, community pantries, Citizens Advice, and district and borough councils.
Families in need of support for food can contact:
· their district council to access the local food voucher schemes,
· their children’s school to access discretionary grants or go to a
· community pantry or
· Foodbanks and other food resources on FISH
Family Information and Services Hub (hants.gov.uk)
· The Easter 2022 was the last holiday meal voucher campaign that was carried out.
There is no longer sufficient Government funding to offer meal vouchers for May half term.
For families that have not received or collected their holiday meal vouchers for Easter 2022 please contact : connect4communities@hants.gov.uk
2. Food Vouchers
Households that receive Local Council Tax Support Pension Credit Guaranteed Credit and Local Council Tax Support will be entitled to a food voucher that will be distributed by District and Borough councils.
· Pension Credit Guaranteed Credit £65
· Local Council Tax Support £30
Further details will be circulated in due course and will be available on the connect4communities website and Districts and Borough websites.
3. Discretionary Grants – Schools, Colleges and Early Years Settings
Hampshire Schools will be given discretionary grants for families that need support
The grant allocation will be calculated based on the number of pupil places at the setting and will be transferred directly to schools.
4. Community pantries
Community pantries work on the principle of giving those in need the
opportunity to have a ‘helping hand’ by getting food at a lower rate on a
weekly basis. There are 20 community pantries across Hampshire. They offer a
range of fresh, frozen and general foods at a lower cost than at the
supermarket, on a weekly basis. Access is by memberships where, for a small
weekly contribution, members receive food to a significantly higher value.
Several pantries also organise activities and provide wraparound support services as well as social interaction for those who are isolated
Find a pantry nearest to you: Community pantries - Hampshire | Children and Families | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
1. Housing costs
There is also help available for housing costs in exceptional circumstances, where support cannot be met by existing schemes. This is available through Hampshire’s District and Borough Councils.
For more information: Support related to housing and housing costs | Children and Families | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
2. Community Grant
Helping community and voluntary organisations provide local support
Community organisations, who know their communities best and are in the ideal position to provide support, can apply for Community grants to support initiatives that help people in need with food and fuel.
Community Grant applications are open from 23rd May to 29th July.
Projects and activities must be implemented by 30 September 2022
For more information contact connect4communities by email at connect4communities@hants.gov.uk or by visiting the website.
Signposting
The full offer will be published and maintained on the programme website: http://connect4communities.org. As grants will be awarded during the next few months, new projects will continue to be added and the website will be maintained to reflect this.
There is also a connect4communities directory that is maintained on Hampshire Family Information and Services Hub (FISH):
Family Information and Services Hub (hants.gov.uk)
Queries that cannot be answered using the information in this pack should be referred to
connect4communities@hants.gov.uk
Key Contacts
Hampshire County Council Contact Centres
Adults Social Care and Health
Adults Services: 0300 555 1386
Contact Adults' Health and Care | Health and social care | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
Childrens Social Care and Health
Childrens Services: 0300 555 1384
Contact Children's Services | Children and Families | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
connect4communities
Yasmeen Hayes: yasmeen.hayes@hants.gov.uk (0370 779 5834)
Annie Bird: annie.bird@hants.gov.uk (01962 846461)
Hayley Maspero: hayley.maspero@hants.gov.uk (0370 779 6554)
In an emergency:
Suzanne Smith: suzanne.smith2@hants.gov.uk (01962 846270)