Cost of Living support – please share with your residents

• Use our cost of living web pages to see what’s available near you. You can also call us on 01983 823134. 
• Contact Citizens Advice Isle of Wight on 0800 144 88 48 or enquiries@iwcab.org.uk. Their advice is free, confidential and independent. They can help with debt, benefits, legal advice and much more. 
• Contact The Footprint Trust for free advice or call them 01983 822282. 
• Use the connect4communities website to see what other support is available in your area.
• The government Help for Households website has information about help with childcare costs, benefits and many other schemes. 

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme

Free places are available for children who get benefits-related free school meals. Some places are also available for other vulnerable families. The scheme offers different activities and a free nutritious meal every day.
Go to our new Family Information Hub for more information and how to book

Prepayment meter customers – scheme closes this Friday 30 June

Do you pay for your electricity on a traditional prepayment meter?
Don’t forget to redeem your energy bills support vouchers at a Post Office or Pay Point by 30 June. 
Check your post, texts, email and spam for your vouchers – electricity suppliers can reissue lost or expired vouchers.

Get more info on the government website

Community pantries

• Community pantries are free.
• Anyone can use them to top up their weekly shop
• Join a pantry and for £5 a week, receive over £15 worth of food.
• You don’t need a referral, contact your nearest pantry directly to join. 

East Cowes Community Pantry
Community Spirited, Vectis Road, East Cowes, PO32 6HN
01983 296592
Opening hours:
Tuesday, 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30am to 12:30pm

Ventnor Community Pantry 
Baby Box, Victoria Street, Ventnor, PO38 1EJ
07961 959003
Opening hours:
Tuesday 3pm to 6pm
Saturday 11am to 2pm

Ryde Community Pantry
Oakfield CE Primary School, Appley Road, Ryde, PO33 1NE
01983 563732
Opening hours:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
3.00pm to 4.30pm

Newport Community Pantry
The Pyle Street Pantry, 98 Pyle Street, Newport, PO30 1UH.
pylestpantry@gmail.com
Opening hours:
Wednesday 11am to 1pm

Friday 5pm to 7pm

Find out more about getting hold of affordable food on our website

Please share this Facebook post and Tweet.

£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment

The payment window for £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment is open.
If you are being paid a disability benefit you will automatically receive your £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment between 20 June and 4 July.
If you were waiting for confirmation of your eligibility or entitlement to disability benefits on 1 April, you will receive it later. This will affect a small number of people.
There will also be further payments of £300 for pensioners due later this year.

Get more information on the government website

GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE

Community Capacity Grants

2023 Grant Funding is available for NEW Early Help provisions on the Isle of Wight.

The grants are up to £3,000. They are for helping organisations deliver initiatives that support local families by working with the community to help develop and promote community resources, spaces, and activities. 

The grant is available to local groups, clubs and enterprises through our Supporting Families programme. It will help new or existing providers organise activities, clubs or groups for families and young people up to the age of 19 (up to 25 with specified additional needs) and/or families, parents and carers.

Applications close at midday on Thursday 29 July.

Find out more about the grants and how to apply on our website

Community grant funding via Household Support Fund
A total of £500,000 is available until 31 March 2024 for local projects and initiatives that support residents who are in food and energy poverty. The window for the first round of applications is open. It closes on 7 July. There will be two more application windows in autumn and in spring 2024.
The funding is available to community and voluntary organisations and town, parish and community councils.
We are looking for innovative and sustainable new ideas and proposals from all corners of the Island.
Find out more and apply via the connect4communities website.

Residents aged over 50 are encouraged to share their thoughts about extra care housing

Extra care housing is defined as accommodation that is age and/or disability-friendly in design and decor. It should feature the availability of care and support around the clock, including things like:

• A range of communal or shared facilities are available to enable community social activities.
• Most schemes also have a restaurant or dining room where people may choose to have their meals.
• Access to onsite care and support services 24 hours a day.
• Leisure facilities like gyms and hair salons.

Tell us what you think about extra care housing on this online survey

Paper copies of the survey are available from libraries or on request. The survey closes on 4 July. 

Alcohol Awareness Week 3 to 9 July

The harm caused by alcohol affects millions of people every year, including financial worries, health concerns, relationship breakdown and family difficulties. 

The total social cost of alcohol to society is estimated to be at least £21 billion each year.

The rising cost of living is causing some people to drink more than they’d like to cope with their financial worries.

We can all take steps to make a change. And with improved support and prevention, we can save money and save lives.

Get more information on alcoholchange.org.uk. 

Take the Rethink Your Drink test

This week is Shared Lives Week

Shared Lives provides care for adults who want to live independently but within a support network of family and community. It can be alternative to other supported living or residential care. Carers receive a fee and benefit from the perks of being self-employed.
Shared Lives supports adults with learning disabilities, mental health and other needs that make it harder for them to live on their own. The scheme matches an adult with care and support needs with carers registered with Shared Lives. 

Our team are out in the community this week, please encourage people to pop along and find out more.
Thursday 29 June, 10am to 1pm, Riverside Centre, The Quay, PO30 2QR
Friday 30 June, 11am to 2pm, Tesco Express, Rectory Drive, Wootton Bridge, PO33 4LX
Find out more about Shared Lives on our website

COVID-19 vaccination

The Spring COVID-10 vaccination is available until this Friday 30 June. 

The Spring vaccination is for:

• adults aged 75 years and over
• residents in a care home for older adults
• individuals aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed

Residents who have only had one COVID-19 vaccination, or none at all, can also get vaccinated until 30 June. 

After 30 June the vaccine will be targeted at those who are at increased risk from the virus.

Book online or call 119.

The Isle of Wight and Hampshire Vaccination Helpline will stay open after 30 June. It’s open Monday to Friday 9 am to 5pm. Call 0300 561 0018.