Support available to stay warm, well and safe this Winter

Household Support Fund

The Council has again been awarded funds  from the Government’s DWP Household Support Fund to help its most vulnerable communities to March 2025. This is the sixth round of funding and the previous schemes have provided support for free school meals, direct payments, boiler servicing for older people and food bank support. The scheme will continue to fund the Warm Space initiative; organisations involved in this can be found here: www.nelincs.gov.uk/benefits/ household-support-fund/ If you or someone you know is experiencing financial distress, get help and support via ConnectNEL. The fund supports with costs for energy, food and emergency household expenses through vouchers, goods and grants, benefit and debt advice as well as other support. For more information on this and Council Tax, Housing Benefit or Free School Meals visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/benefits

Pension Credit

Pensioners. Have you checked if you can claim pension credit to help support your income? AGE UK North East Lincolnshire can help you check and also help you apply for support. Office appointments are available at both the Grimsby and Cleethorpes offices as well as home visits, where appropriate. Call 01472 344976 to start your journey or visit www.gov.uk/pension-credit. Pension credit is worth, on average, £3,900 a year. But did you know, if you receive just £1 in Pension Credit, then you are eligible for winter fuel allowance too. Pension Credit also unlocks additional support including help with Council tax, NHS dental care, and for those over 75, a free TV licence.

Last date to apply and still qualify for Winter Fuel Payment is Saturday, 21 December.

Housing Related Support team

If you or someone you know is worried about losing their home, there are people who can help.

Graham, a local man, was supported and we can do the same for others. Graham was drinking to help him cope after being sectioned due to a mental health episode. His life spiralled further after his long-term relationship broke down and he lost his job. Graham was then served an eviction notice after problems with flatmates.

Desperate, he called the North East Lincolnshire Council’s Homeless Team, and officers immediately stepped in. He was referred through the council’s Housing Related Support scheme to one of their seven providers. They helped Graham apply for Universal Credit, and access food banks.

With their support, he went back to learning to improve his reading and writing skills and apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment). He was also supported to access mental health services to help him with his ongoing struggles. In a new home with money now coming in, Graham said “I began to feel much better, I am drinking less and eating well.”

Housing Related Support is for anyone over 16 who needs help and is willing to work with services to learn new skills and achieve their goals. If you think Housing Related Support could help you, please ring the NELC Home Options Team on 01472 326296 (Option 1).

Home Energy Team

If you need help with heating, insulation, repairs or other home improvement grants, the Home Energy Tam can help.

Every year, damp and mould causes issues for thousands of homes when the colder weather sets in. Enjoy a warmer home this year by visiting https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/homes-and-property/home-energy/.

If you need help, call 01472 326296 (options 5) or email energy@nelincs.gov.uk

Food Support

Throughout the festive period, families will be eating more than usual, but for some, it isn’t that simple. If you need help with food this Christmas, there are a few different places which may be able to help:

• Nurtrio Meals on Wheels – the team can offer meals on wheels for residents across the borough. For more information, call 01472 322915 or email hello@nurtrio.co.uk. They are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing and New Year’s Day.

• Meals Fore You – A Christmas meal can be delivered (last orders to be placed by December 19^th) as well as various meals throughout the period. Closed between December 21^st and January 3^rd.
  
  

• YMCA Humber – YMCA on Freeman Street offer a range of food and drink at their Bradbury Café. The café closes from 3pm, December 20^th and reopens at 9am, 2^nd January.
  
  

• Rock Foundation – The Rock Foundation offers free food parcels for those on means-tested benefits, no income and a household with children who are in poverty. They can be found on Garibaldi Street, off Freeman Street. For opening hours, contact 01472 488026.
  
  

• Generations Church Food Pantry – the Community Church on Wingate Road offers food parcels at £4 each for Willows residents. For more information, contact food@generationschurch.uk
  
  

• West Marsh Community Centre – Found on Beeson Street, the organisation offers free food packages, predominantly to those living in the West Marsh. Contact 01472 269230 for more information.
  
  

• Oasis South Hub Grimsby – Free food parcels for South Ward residents and Oasis school families. The hub will close on 24^th December and reopen on 7^th January. The last food parcels will be given on 23^rd December 10am-12pm.
  
  

• CARE Immingham Access Point – Free food parcels are offered to residents in Immingham and the surrounding villages. The organisation operates from the Immingham Civic Centre with the last session 20^th December and operate on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12pm-3.30pm. It will be closed from 23^rd December to 6^th January.
  
  

• We Are One Foundation –This can be accessed via the car park off Newmarket Street, free food parcels are available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am – 2pm. It will be closed Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. The organisation will reopen fully on 2^nd January. This service also offers hot meals for the homeless and those in need at 116 Freeman Street on 21^st December and 28^th December from 4pm-6pm.
  
  

• Feed the Community – Operating from St. Christopher’s on Convamore Road, Grimsby. This service offer free food parcels and more information can be found by contacting 07727 260285 or visiting https://m.facebook.com/feedthecommunitygy/.
  
  

• Clee and St Francis Food Larder – Offering food parcels and a Warm Space, those in need can visit Old Clee Church hall on Church Lane from 12pm-2.00pm on 19^th December and 2^nd January.
  
  

• ECHO – This service, under Cleethorpes Road flyover, offers food parcels which can be ordered and delivered with free hot food and drink. For more information, call 01507 824342 or 07931 520416.

Centre 4

If you’re not sure which direction to turn, or require further help, Centre 4 Community Centre is the perfect place for you to get connected to the help that you need.

Situated on Wootton Road, they offer warm spaces and services to support you with advice and support for a range of issues like food, gas and electric, debt, wellbeing and benefits, not to mention a range of social and exercise activities.

The centre also has a Community Shop offering discounted foods, membership required, but also has a Community Café available to all residents whilst operating as a Warm Space over Winter.

To contact the teams, call 01472 403403 or drop-in at 17a Wootton Road, Grimsby DN33 1HE.

HEY Credit Union

HEY Credit Union is a not-for-profit organisation that helps spread the cost of all things from Christmas presents to school uniform.

They offer loans from £100 upwards and only charge interest on the reducing balance. Repayments can be weekly, fortnightly, 4 weekly or monthly to match your income.

For example, a loan of £250 paid back over 12 months will cost 25.12 per month (total cost £301.44).

They also offer an option to plan ahead for the new year with their Christmas Saver account. Participants can put away £10 a week until November 1^st, which accumulates to around £500 if you start saving from early January.

For the full range of services, handy money tips, a benefits checker, budget planner and links to support services, visit https://hullandeycu.co.uk/