| Wellbeing Newsletter Support from NCC, NCF and LGA Apologies for the long nature of this newsletter, but there is much here that will be of interest to everyone. . Norfolk County Council (NCC) and Norfolk Community Foundation (NCF) can offer a wide range of support to people who are struggling. Over coming months’ it will be vital to ensure that everyone is receiving all the help they can possibly get from this and other sources. Below we share the latest information about what is available and how to access it. Councils with the General Power of Competence (GpoC) are of course able to do anything that an individual can do and so can act as a conduit or enabler for much of the funding, but please don’t be put off if you don’t currently have the GPoC, ask yourself if there are other ways to unlock funding that is available, perhaps through working with your local church, village centre or other possible partners. Norfolk County Council Household Support Fund autumn/winter 2022 Norfolk County Council has just announced its cost-of-living support offer, helping households in the County manage their costs. As stakeholders we wish to raise your awareness of the programme of support available, to enable you to signpost your customers to help where needed. The Council has been allocated £6.69 million to be spent by the end of March 2023 by the government’s Household Support Fund and will add an additional £1.2m of council funds to create a total support package for Norfolk Households of just over £7.9m. The new scheme aims to provide extra support to those facing hardship this winter, as the cost-of-living crisis continues, especially around food and energy costs. The County Council will continue to work closely with district, borough and city councils, the VCSE sector and schools to help those most in need, with a special focus on providing support for rising energy and utility bills over winter. There have been some fantastic outcomes through the previous Household Support Fund and the work is supporting many people across Norfolk. However, the pressures continue for some, and may be particularly difficult over the winter period as households use more fuel to keep their homes warm, and the increased costs of this. Based on previous experience, the funding is expected to provide support to around 70,000 households across Norfolk. Below is a summary of the support that is on offer. Support for families who receive Free School Meals The Council will continue to provide cost-of-living vouchers for free school meals eligible children, with those eligible receiving a total of £120 in vouchers per child for the period November 2022 to April 2023. The vouchers are provided by Edenred, which can be used in all supermarkets for essentials, including clothing. If you are working with a family who you think may be eligible for free school meals, who are not currently receiving them, please encourage them to speak to their children’s education provider or support them in that conversation where needed. Children who are home educated and may be entitled to the vouchers can complete the Norfolk Assistance Scheme form and will be supported to access Edenred by NAS. For more information about free school meals click here Norfolk Assistance Scheme (NAS) NAS already provides hardship support to Norfolk residents who are struggling with their living costs. The type of support that NAS provides is tailored to the individual needs of each household. It can include food vouchers, help with buying school uniforms and gas or electricity meter pre-payments, purchasing oil and a range of other support as needed. NCC have also invested in additional advice capacity that NAS can refer to. This means that as well as one-off financial support, people struggling with their finances will find it easier to access debt and welfare advice and support to find longer term solutions. Find out more about the support on offer and who can apply at NAS Norfolk Community Foundation If you are a VCSE organisation, town or parish council or faith group you can apply to Norfolk Community Foundation for a grant funding to enable £50 cash support or pay contributions to energy/utility bills of £50. You can then use this funding to offer winter aid directly to the people you support. More detail about who can apply, for how much and when, will soon be available at NCF Household Support Norfolk Community Foundation will be advising VCSE organisations how they link people up with longer term support offered by district council teams and NAS so that they can be helped past the initial £50 sum where needed. Local support in the community City, district, and borough councils are using their in-depth knowledge about their residents and local community to proactively target support to where it is most needed. This support will be delivered through existing local organisations and council services who come across individuals and families in need. City, district, and borough councils will be in touch directly with partner organisations with more detail about their individual schemes. Norfolk’s network of 47 libraries is offering free hygiene packs with essential toiletry and sanitary products, as well as ‘warm and well’ packs including things like blankets, gloves, and socks. People will be able to go to libraires and pick up these packs in a discreet way when they need them. Libraries will also be offering self-serve hot drinks at all of their libraries this winter during their opening hours. Winter support in general Anyone can go to www.norfolk.gov.uk/costofliving to find out what support is available and how to access it. Organisations and support workers can also do this on people’s behalf. If people have problems accessing online services, then they can visit their local library or call on 0344 800 8020. What can I do to help? If you are working with, or aware of, a family who you think may be eligible for free school meals, who are not currently receiving them, please encourage them to speak to their children’s education provider or support them in that conversation where needed. Please direct people to the website www.norfolk.gov.uk/costofliving so that they can find the right support for their needs. If someone needs emergency help with food or fuel, then direct them to the Norfolk Assistance Scheme www.norfolk.gov.uk/NAS or tell them to call 0344 800 8020. Who can I contact for further information? Hardship Support General Information – Natasha Hayes, Head of Communities, Norfolk County Council [email protected] Norfolk Assistance Scheme and the support on offer – John Baldwin, Head of Finance Exchequer Services [email protected] Free School Meal vouchers and support for families – [email protected] and [email protected] Broadland Council’s support offer – [email protected] Breckland Council’s support offer – [email protected] Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s support offer – Steve Scott-Greenard [email protected] 0808 196 2238 King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council’s support offer – [email protected] Norwich City Council’s support offer – [email protected] South Norfolk Council’s support offer – [email protected] North Norfolk District Council’s support offer – [email protected] Norfolk Community Foundation Funding and Support news Norfolk Community Foundation offer a wide range of support packages to help organisations support their communities. These are summarised below. Community Hot-Spot Fund Keeping people warm and connected this winter Each year, NCF support Norfolk charities to provide vital services for people living in our county, combatting isolation and loneliness and improving people’s wellbeing during the colder months. This year, our winter funding is focusing on organisations that are, or are looking to, provide what we are calling a ‘Community Hot-Spot’. A Community Hot-Spot is a warm space for people to take a break from the cold and connect with others over the winter months. Grants of £2,000 are available to contribute towards the cost of running or establishing a Community Hot-Spot that gives a warm welcome to the whole community, in particular reaching those who are vulnerable or have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 26th October. They aim to confirm funding decisions in early November. Find out more East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund: Breckland, Broadland, Great Yarmouth, Norwich, and South Norfolk | Closes 10th October Grants of up to £5,000 are available to support the work of VCSEs looking to create or adapt services or activities to address local need in Norfolk, in locations where the East of England Co-op trades. Find out more Empowering Communities for Mental Health and Wellbeing: Norfolk and Waveney | Closes 11th October Grants of up to £10,000 are available for projects which are designed to support groups of the population that are currently experiencing heightened challenges to their mental health and wellbeing. The Programme will enable support to the following three priority areas: men’s wellbeing, families, and adults with long term physical health conditions. Find out more New Endeavour Rangers Fund: Norfolk and Waveney | Closes 24th October Grants of up to £2,000 are available to support charitable organisations offering opportunities and positive activities for children and young people in Gorleston and the wider Borough of Great Yarmouth. Find out more Breckland Council Inspiring Communities Fund: Breckland | Open Grants of up to £5,000 are available to support up to a maximum of 50% of total project costs for projects in the Breckland area, which meet the Inspiring Communities outcomes. Funded projects will focus on leading recovery from Covid-19, supporting vulnerable members of the community to improve their life chances and enhancing the health and wellbeing of Breckland’s communities by providing leisure facilities and activities. Find out more Sheringham Shoal Community Fund: North Norfolk | Open Grants are available to support projects proposed by groups inspired to do something new and positive in their community, in particular projects which have an environmental and sustainability focus. The fund aims to award half of the funding to Wells-next-to-the-Sea and the surrounding area with the remaining funds being available to the wider North Norfolk area. No maximum grant value is set but as a guide the largest award to date is £25,000. Find out more Saracen’s Norfolk Fund: South Norfolk | Open Grants re available to support charitable activities that benefit rural areas within the district of South Norfolk with grants up to a maximum of £5,000. The Fund aims to support projects that are led by local people and aim to enhance quality of life in small rural communities by improving access to support, services and opportunities. Please note the Fund is unlikely to make a contribution to capital projects and gives priority to community activities that involve and benefit local people in rurally isolated areas of South Norfolk. Find out more Funding Plus: Providing much more than funding Funding Plus is NCF’s programme of free information, advice and resources that helps charities access the help they need to overcome organisational challenges, build networks and plan for the future. From pro-bono support from local businesses to webinars on topics such as health and safety and HR and one-to-one sessions from business experts, they are committed to offering more than funding to help Norfolk’s charities shine brighter. Funding Plus LGA’s cost-of-living support hub and bulletin – reminder The Local Government Association (LGA) has recently launched a cost-of-living support hub to help councils continue to support residents and a new monthly cost-of-living bulletin, both of which highlight the latest news from the government. This includes examples of good practice, latest reports and data and upcoming events. Cost-of-living hub: Bulletin sign-up: |
