Cost-of-living community hubs launched by NFDC in New Milton, Totton, Calshot, Pennington and Fordingbridge
NEW Forest residents struggling to keep up with the cost of living can find help at five newly launched community hubs.
Located at Calshot, New Milton, Totton, Pennington, and Fordingbridge, they will offer advice and signpost to relevant local and national support.
The new service is run by New Forest District Council's benefits and housing teams, as well as Citizens Advice New Forest.
The hubs will run alongside the five existing weekly FareShare food larders – a membership scheme offering food essentials at reduced cost.
They will take place at:
- Nedderman Centre, New Milton, on Wednesdays, 9.30am-10.30am
- Testwood Baptist Church, Totton, on Wednesdays, 9.30am-11.30am
- St George's Hall, Calshot, on Thursdays, 12.30pm-1.30pm
- St Mark's Community Hall, Pennington, on Thursdays, 1pm-2pm (open from 12pm for tea and coffee)
- Avonway Community Centre, Fordingbridge, on Fridays, 1.30pm-2.30pm.
NFDC continues to offer other cost-of-living support, including a dedicated hub on its website giving regularly updated advice on food and housing, energy and water bills, and council tax.
To support those without internet access, the council has been promoting schemes including pension credit, council tax support and the Household Support Fund at its eight information offices.
In partnership with Citizens Advice, NFDC has also created and distributed pocket-sized guides to accessing local and national cost-of-living support.
Under its Warm Spaces grant scheme, NFDC is distributing £17,720 across 22 businesses and organisations to assist them in providing free, safe and welcoming spaces for local residents.
Information about cost of living support is often included in the council’s regular resident emails. They can sign up to receive these emails on the council website at newforest.gov.uk/emails