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

                  Christians Against Poverty –               capuk.org     0800 328 0006

                    [email protected]

National Debtline 0808 808 4000  www.nationaldebtline.org  

Stepchange  

www.stepchange.org/debt-info.aspx            

Turn2us  0808 802 2000  

www.turn2us.org.uk

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

Benefits

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

[email protected]

Energy Bill advice  

             ~Contact your energy supplier sooner

              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

                      CAB – 0808 278 7897                                                                                    –                      www.citizensadvicebanes.org.uk

                      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

                               [email protected]

Family Support

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

[email protected]

Healthy Start Vouchers– Free milk, fruit and veg for children under 4 on benefits 

www. healthystart.nhs.uk/    0345 607 6823

Mental Health and Wellbeing

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 MorningFriday 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

 

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