Get Help
Extra help
Here are a list of local groups who may be able to help you out of your situation or give you some extra support.
Advice and
Contacts
(revised June 2023)
Somer Valley Foodbank 07729523986 [email protected]
National CAB and Trussell Trust – Help for Hardship line 0808 208 2138
Debt Advice
National Debtline 0808 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.org
www.stepchange.org/debt-info.aspx
Debt Advice Foundation www.debtadvicefoundation.org
Money Advice Service www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk
StopLoanSharks 03005552222
Money Advice Service
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/tools/money-navigator-tool
Turn2Us – benefit checker, sees if you are worse or better off on UC, checks you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to, grants offered, specific info required.
DWP – 0800 1690310 – ww.gov.uk/browse/benefits
Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP – if there is a problem with your claim – 0117 9872313
Energy Bill advice
rather than later – get someone else
to speak for you but the energy supplier may ask you for permission to talk to them.
4 steps to avoid fuel debt
1. Improve energy efficiency in your home 2. Check you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to 3. If you are unable to pay your bill contact your supplier immediately 4. Provide your supplier with a monthly reading so you get an accurate bill or ask for a smart meter.
~Let’s Talk Energy Fund
https://fund.lets-talk.online/
The Let’s Talk Energy Fund can help customers who are struggling to pay their bills. It can also help applicants by providing replacement household items such as cookers, fridges, fridge-freezers and washing machines – and also help to replace and repair gas and oil boilers.
Applicants need to be in receipt of one of the following benefits or have a gross household income of less than £16,190:
·Pension Guarantee Credit ·Child Tax Credit
·Working Tax Credit ·Income Support
·Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (Contribution based JSA does not qualify)
·Income – Related Employment Support Allowance (Contribution based ESA does not qualify)
·Universal Credit
~Check to see if there is a Local Welfare Assistance Fund – a local crisis fund for emergencies that you can benefit from.
~Stay in control of your energy account – are you on the right tariff; are you on the best method of payment?
~See if you are eligible for some extra financial help – suppliers have schemes to help if you are in debt. Many have trust funds that they can use to help
people on low incomes.
~Wessex and Bristol Water have an online form if you are struggling to pay.
http://www.wessexwater.co.uk/Customers/Bills-and-accounts/Problems-paying/
0345 600 3600 bristolwater.co.uk/help-to-pay
~Talk to other national or local organisations –
CAB – 03454 040506 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/
National Debtline – 0808 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.org
Stepchange
www.stepchange.org/debt-info.aspx
Turn2us – 0808 802 2000 www.turn2us.org.uk
~Improve energy efficiency – switch off unused lights; reduce appliances on stand-by; use the economy button on appliances; only boil the amount of water you need; defrost the fridge and freezer; use draught excluders; use low energy bulbs; put reflective foil behind radiators.
Use the ‘How to use Heating’ guide on www.nea.org.uk/resources/information-leaflets/
Useful contacts
B&NES: Welfare Support – The Hollies, MSN
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/contact-us/hollies-midsomer-norton) and http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/care-and-support-and-you
Village Agents
Links people in rural areas to advice and support services 01275 333700
wern.org.uk/banes-village-agents
Wessex Resolutions CIC
Finance solutions for home repairs – not for profit – 01823 461099 [email protected]
Community Wellbeing Hub 0300 247 0050
All kinds of help available
Citizen’s Advice
At The Hollies, Midsomer Norton
Wed. 9.30am – 2pm
At The Hub Radstock
Fridays 9.30 – 2pm
Phone chats Monday – Friday 10 – 4pm
Future Bright – helps with cv’s and job prospects 01225 395555 – local drop-ins
Share and Repair Cafe, Bath. – 07486518197
Mums and Tots
Mon +Fri – Peasedown St John – Little Ones 10 – 12.00 £1 donation www.stjsgroup.church/littleones
Tuesday 9.30 – 11.00 am Sunbeams in St John’s
Hall MSN. £1.50
Friday 9.00 – 11.00 am Sunbeams at St Nicholas
Church , Radstock £1.50 (term time)
8.45 – 10.45 am Tea and Toast, St John’s
Church, Chilcompton (term time)
Mumsnet – online advice.
Facebook groups – ‘What’s on for children’
tells you about all the activities on offer
Wansdyke Play Association – MSN Town Hall
01761 568242 [email protected]
Gingerbread (Single parents, equal families) www.gingerbread.org.uk
Health visitors / HCRG Care Group – Somer Valley West Health Visiting Team (MSN and Paulton), 01225 831794
bathnes.healthandcare.nhs.uk
Family Information Service – 01225 395343
Healthy Start Vouchers– Free milk, fruit and veg for children under 4 on benefits
www. healthystart.nhs.uk/ 0345 607 6823
Samaritans – call 116 123, any phone, any time
Oasis – Listening Project – Midsomer Norton Methodist Church – 10 am – 12 noon – Every Friday and 1st and 3rd Saturday
MIND 0300 123 3393
Bath Carers – 0800 0388885
Off the Record – a service for young people 01225 312481 [email protected]
Men’s Shed – 07818420685 – £5 per year [email protected] – £3 per session
www.midsomermensshed.co.uk
Paulton Stroke Support Group – Thursdays 1.30-3.30pm – Turner Room, Paulton Hospital.
7Curo Independent Living – support at home
0300 123 2461
Memory Café Radstock Museum 01761 437722
Community Room, Hillcrest,
Peasedown 07972205984
Singing – Conygre Hall, Timsbury, 01761 470006
Bereavement counselling
Cruse Bereavement Care, 2 Westfield Court, Radstock, 01761 417250
Child Death helpline 0800 282986
Winston’s Wish 0808 8020021
Coffee and Chat Morning – Friday at MSN Methodist Church, 10.30-12am – relax over a cuppa and chat – a play corner for the little ones.
Greet and Eat 12 – 2ish lunches book on 07957414970
AgeUK – [email protected] –
01225 466135
W.I. – first Tuesday of the month, 7.30 in the Church Hall, High Littleton 01761 568125
Banes Drug and Alcohol Services – http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/care-and-support-and-you/drug-and-alcohol-issues
DHI – [email protected] – 01225 329411
Alzheimer’s Society Pinelea Day Centre, MSN. 01225 396426 [email protected]
Youth Clubs
Youth Hub – PSJ 01225 395055
Radstock 01761 433288
Radicals – St Nicholas’s Church Centre, Radstock, Friday 7pm. Advice and Support
Radstock Youth Hub – 01761 433288
Wansdyke Youth Club – 01225 395055
Transport
SWAN Transport 01761 439548
Community Service Vehicle – MSN
Dial-a-ride – MSN and Radstock – 01761 417504
Youth Hub – PSJ 01225 395055 Radstock 01761 433288
Radicals – St Nicholas’s Church Centre, Radstock, Friday 7pm
Advice and Support – Radstock Youth Hub – 01761 433288
Wansdyke Youth Club – Thurs 5.30-7.30 – MSN Town Hall
Transport
SWAN Transport 01761 439548
Community Service Vehicle – MSN and Radstock – 01761 416910
Dial-a-ride – MSN and Radstock – 01761 417504