Help is available this winter for vulnerable residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole who have felt the impact of the pandemic.

Free school meal supermarket vouchers are available for eligible families with school aged children to support them during the holiday periods. They are delivered through schools

There is increased support for local food banks and community food support including pantries and community fridges

In addition, vulnerable residents can access help to pay utility bills through pre-payment card schemes and through BCP Citizens Advice

There is also support to access food delivered through the Together We Can helpline.

Cllr Nicola Greene, portfolio holder for Covid Resilience, Public Health and Education, said, “We know that there are many vulnerable people out there including families with children who will be struggling this winter. We want them to know that there is dedicated support available to help with accessing food and to keep warm and we are trying to make it as simple and easy to access this support as possible.

“We also know that many local residents will wish to support vulnerable people in their own communities who may have fallen on hard times. With a whole network of organisations out in the local community, it can be hard to know where to start and what help is needed. We have tried to make it easy to find out what help is required, whether that’s by donating food, clothing or time by volunteering, with information on our dedicated Together We Can web pages.”

For advice about accessing food, households with children can call BCP Council Family Information Service on 01202 261970.

Households without children should call Together We Can helpline: 0300 1237052

For advice about winter warmth, you can call Citizens advice: 01202 081732

If residents wish to help their local community by donating food and other items or volunteering, they should visit: www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/helpwintersupport

The winter support scheme follows a recent allocation of £1,068,327.58 to the council from the government’s COVID Winter Grant Scheme.