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Updated info on warm spaces in Great Yarmouth Borough

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Updated info on warm spaces in Great Yarmouth Borough

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Places you can go if you are looking for a warm space, warm welcome and warm drink - all for free!

If your church / group /organisation offers somewhere which welcomes everyone, opens regularly and matches the criteria above then please contact Anna Heydon on anna.heydon@togethernorfolk.org.uk to have it added to the map.

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Great Yarmouth Borough Warm Spaces - Imagine Norfolk Together

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I'm trying to draw up a comprehensive list of the regular free warm spaces available in the Great Yarmouth borough this winter. If you provide one and it isn't listed on the map yet could you let me know please? anna.heydon@togethernorfolk.org.uk Thanks

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I'm trying to draw up a comprehensive list of the regular free warm spaces available in the Great Yarmouth borough this winter. If you provide one and it isn't listed on the map yet could you let me know please? anna.heydon@togethernorfolk.org.uk Thanks

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Places you can go if you are looking for a warm space, warm welcome and warm drink - all for free!

If your church / group /organisation offers somewhere which welcomes everyone, opens regularly and matches the criteria above then please contact Anna Heydon on anna.heydon@togethernorfolk.org.uk to have it added to the map.

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Great Yarmouth Borough Warm Spaces - Imagine Norfolk Together

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Places you can go if you are looking for a warm space, warm welcome and warm drink - all for free! If your church / group /organisation offers somewhere which welcomes everyone, opens regularly and matches the criteria above then please contact Anna Heydon on anna.heydon@togethernorfolk.org.uk to have it added to the map.

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We’re supporting In Kind Direct’s Not a Choice campaign, helping to raise awareness of hygiene poverty in the UK and the impossible choices that people across Norfolk are having to make on a daily basis.

In Kind Direct is a charity that believes everyone deserves access to life's essentials and that no usable product should go to waste – they exist to enable more people to thrive with confidence and dignity.

Sign up today for free to access essential hygiene products like shampoo, toothpaste and period products to give to the people you support, for a fraction of the retail price: https://cat.inkinddirect.org/customer/account/create/

Knowing how to start conversations and create safe spaces free from stigma is vital as we start to raise awareness of hygiene poverty in the UK. Access a range of educational resources on talking about hygiene poverty and other difficult subjects.

Keeping clean is Not a Choice.  #NotAChoice

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£10 could help supply 6 hygiene packs, reducing the pressure on 6 families for a month*

£10 could help distribute the equivalent of 6 hygiene packs to families in need, reducing the pressure on 6 families for a month

Text CHOICE to 70460 to donate £10

To donate a different amount, text CHOICE followed by the amount you wish to donate. (e.g. CHOICE20)
Standard network rate applies plus donation cost.
By donating you are opting in to hear from us, or add NOINFO to opt out. E.g. CHOICENOINFO

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Hygiene Poverty is Not a Choice - In Kind Direct

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£10 could help distribute the equivalent of 6 hygiene packs to families in need, reducing the pressure on 6 families for a month Text CHOICE to 70460 to donate £10 To donate a different amount, text CHOICE followed by the amount you wish to donate. (e.g. CHOICE20) Standard network rate applies plus donation cost.

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Lofty Heights - 2 days funded support for vulnerable people to improve energy efficiency

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Lofty Heights - 2 days funded support for vulnerable people to improve energy efficiency

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Lofty Heights CIC, a non-profit social enterprise, is working in partnership with UK Power Networks across East Anglia to provide 2 days funded support for vulnerable people looking to reduce their living costs and improve their homes energy efficiency.
Support includes:
* Loft decluttering
* Replacement of electric heaters
* Supply & fit hot water cylinder jackets

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We've recently been contacted by Better Housing Better Health (BHBH), a not-for-profit service run by the National Energy Foundation charity. They support residents living in or at risk of living in fuel poverty, to access practical & financial advice & support.
BHBH have a free helpline where the team can give valuable tips on how to stay warm at home, sign up those in need of additional support to the Priority Services Register, refer for free home energy visits & access grants for energy efficiency measures.

If you think this service would be of help to any of your clients you may refer them online at www.BHBH.org.uk , or provide their details via phone on 0800 107 0044.

BHBH also provide free training sessions for employees and/or volunteers working  with the public to help them spot the signs of fuel poverty, understand the causes & learn more about the different grants available. They can fit this into existing team meetings or set a up a session with you to do this -  usually around 30 mins. Call Elizabeth Ackroyd on 0800 107 0044

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Information on setting up and running a Warm Space from Martin Lewis

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Information on setting up and running a Warm Space from Martin Lewis

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Links to advice and information

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Would you like some help from the Norfolk Fire and Rescue's Youth Development team?

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Would you like some help from the Norfolk Fire and Rescue's Youth Development team?

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Message from the Youth Development Team:
Every 12-week Prince’s Trust Team Programme that we run includes a ‘Community Project’ and ‘Community Challenges’ where our learners plan and do something for people and groups in their local community. We are always on the look-out for new groups to work with, and new ideas and suggestions for projects and challenges. If you have an idea about how our learners can help you (or a group you know) with a project or challenge then we’d love to hear from you!

The projects and challenges allow our learners to develop communication, team work and leadership skills as well as getting involved with diverse groups in their community. For the projects our learners will plan, raise sponsorship money and ultimately create something useful for a community group – for example a play area, a sensory space, a redecorated social room, a wildlife garden, etc. For the challenges our learners will facilitate an activity directly for a group – for example distributing welcome packs to asylum seekers, running a treasure hunt for children, or a games afternoon at a care home, etc.

Previous examples in the press:

Young people transform care home's garden in just four days | Eastern Daily Press (edp24.co.uk)

Team’s welcome bags for refugees - Your Local Paper

Prince's Trust volunteers complete impressive makeover of Scouts garden | Dereham Times

Contact our Team Leaders:

fireyouthdev@norfolk.gov.uk

Norwich Team – 07920 792232

King’s Lynn Team – 07919 492245

Dereham Team – 07795 067383

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Help with Living Costs leaflets - hard copies available

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Help with Living Costs leaflets - hard copies available

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If you would like some hard copies of the attached leaflet from NCC please get in touch with us at network@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk providing no. required, full address, postcode & contact name 😊

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Colleagues at NCC have put together a useful list of free/low cost Xmas lunches & food packages across the county. - also listed on Norfolk Community Directory.
Please email debra.lawrence-bell@norfolk.gov.uk if you have any to add 🎄

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Aviva Community Fund Cost of Living Boost

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Aviva Community Fund Cost of Living Boost

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Aviva are offering match-funding of donations for projects fundraising through their Community Fund which fall under the Financial Wellbeing category- find out more via the link. Extra match-fund offer ends 31st Dec

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Working together, we can make a difference to those in the cost of living crisis.

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Lighning Reach - supports people in in financial hardship with the support they need

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Lighning Reach - supports people in in financial hardship with the support they need

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Thanks to the NCAN team for sharing this useful website via their newsletter!

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If you're struggling financially and need help with money, you may be eligible to apply for a grant from one of the providers on our portal.

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Help with Living Costs leaflet from Norfolk County Council

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Help with Living Costs leaflet from Norfolk County Council

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Easy-read format available on request (emailed to Network 02/12)

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This week we've created a new Food Provision Padlet to share info, contact details & resources from our Good Practice workshop on Food Aid & Distribution in Norfolk.
The Padlet is also a place to map food provision projects (foodbanks, social supermarkets, community fridges etc) across the county- & ask questions about food aid.
Please check it out & add your own links & resources!

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Really Useful Guide to starting and managing Warm Rooms - Community Action Suffolk

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Really Useful Guide to starting and managing Warm Rooms - Community Action Suffolk

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Really Useful Guide to starting and managing Warm Rooms

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Partnership AW x NCC A5 Leaflet v1 Print Ready

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Free Energy Advice training for professionals

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Free Energy Advice training for professionals

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Norwich Climate Commission are offering Energy Advice Training looking at how to offer advice to people who need it

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our power: energy advice training tickets

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Eventbrite - Norwich Climate Commission presents Our Power: Energy advice training - Tuesday, December 6, 2022 - Find event and ticket information.

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Help with Living Costs leaflet from Norfolk County Council

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Help with Living Costs leaflet from Norfolk County Council

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Easy-read format available on request (emailed to Network 02/12)

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Your Own Place have a handy page of links to resources, funds etc to help clients with Cost of Living concerns

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NCF Community Hot-Spot Extra Funds Available (short deadline)

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NCF Community Hot-Spot Extra Funds Available (short deadline)

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Please note that this funding opportunity is currently only available for groups in the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Each year, we 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, due to a generous contribution from the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, we are able to support additional Community Hot-Spots in this area.

Grants of up to £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. 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.

In your application, please tell us about your idea for a Community Hot-Spot. As well providing warmth, this space should bring the community together. This can be anything from providing a cup of tea and a warm welcome, to enabling access to wider support services. All ideas are welcome!

Please click below to see our full guidance on 'Community Hot-Spots'.

Organisations that provide the following documentation with their application will be more likely to receive funding.

A copy of a recent bank statement (dated within the last year)

A copy of your safeguarding policy, this should include the name of your group's designated safeguarding officer.

Before making an application, please ensure that your organisation meets our eligibility requirements.

This funding might be right for you if:

You are a small grassroots community group or charity.

You are an established organisation with a track record of delivering activities or services that benefit vulnerable people in your community.

You are looking for funding to support the costs involved in providing a warm space for people in your community.

You can start spending your grant immediately. Funds should be spent by 31st March 2024.

This funding is not right for you if:

You are not a constituted group.

Your project is a capital (building) project, including boiler replacement/ repair and new windows.

You are a Private sector organisation.

You are looking for funding to support the costs associated in heating organisation office space.

This map shows all of the Community Hot-Spots that were funded in last years appeal. Please take a look at our 2022/23 Community Hot-Spot map to see if any Community Hot-Spots were established near you.
Last year, we were able to deliver this programme thanks to contributions from Norfolk County Council, Norwich City Council and the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk
We are able to offer this support thanks to generous donations from the public into our Surviving Winter fund, and thanks to our partners.

How to apply

Please use the 'Apply online' link below to begin an online application. If you have any questions or would like to discuss an application, please get in touch.

When to apply

This will be a rolling grant opportunity and will close when funds are fully spent. Applications will be assessed and payments administered on a rolling basis.

Call for Applications

Open

Who can apply?

Charity, Faith organisation, Parish/Town Council, Social Enterprise/CIC, and Voluntary/Community Group

Eligible Area

King's Lynn & West Norfolk

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Community Hot-Spot Fund | Norfolk Community Foundation

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Up to £2,000 grants available for organisations who want to provide a warm space for people vulnerable people in their community.

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Limited stock of lateral flow tests available FREE

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Limited stock of lateral flow tests available FREE

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Norfolk Public Health have asked us to share info regarding a stock of LFD tests which they have available for distribution:
“We have a stock of LFDs with an expiry date of Feb 23 [...] to be distributed to those (who would otherwise buy them) for symptomatic Covid testing.  The stock is stored at Scottow."

Interested orgs please contact Danny daniel.corby@norfolk.gov.uk to arrange pick up or contact us at network@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk for the full message

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The Open Philanthropy Funds are open for applications- there are 2 separate funds aiming to reduce financial hardship in the UK. The deadline is 5pm Friday 16th December.
The Tackling Financial Hardship Fund (A) offers grants up to £15,000 to charities/community groups with a specific focus on supporting:

Asylum seekers; Young people' Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities; Those with experience of domestic violence; Single parents; Women and girls

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Apply for the Tackling Financial Hardship funds - Think NPC

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The Tackling Financial Hardship Fund (A) is a one off funding cycle awarding £250,000 in grants to relieve and reduce financial hardship in the UK, with a specific focus on supporting: Asylum seekers Young people Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities Those with experience of domestic violence Single parent households Women and girls It will offer grants of up to £15,000 to charities and community groups (unregistered or registered) with a turnover of less than £100,000.

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This website has been set up by a Norfolk organisation but lists warm spaces across the UK

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Find a warm space near you. Warm Spaces is designed to signpost anyone in need of warmth to a warm space. Running a Warm Space? Add it to the map.

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Norfolk Community Foundation Household Support Fund

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Norfolk Community Foundation Household Support Fund

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NCF have relaunched their Household Support Fund. Community groups can apply for grants to support households who are particularly vulnerable to the cost of living crisis with energy bills.
Due to high demand in previous rounds of funding this fund will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and will close when all funds have been allocated.

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This fund is now closed.
The Norfolk Household Support Fund (funded through the Norfolk County Council Cost of Living Support Scheme) is returning to help with the rising costs of household utility bills. This round of funding can support any households who are particularly vulnerable to increasing energy costs. This funding is not means tested but the organisation will need to have an understanding of the applicant's circumstances before applying.

The Household Support Fund has been created to provide a straightforward route for frontline Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to deliver vital and immediate financial support with utility bills.

This funding is to complement the existing support provided through your services, which should include signposting and provision of information to those who are particularly vulnerable to the increasing cost of living.

* Parish Council Applicants - please note, only Parish Councils with General Power of Competence are able to distribute funds to individuals.

Norfolk VCSE organisations can apply for grants with a maximum value of £50 per household, who have been identified as particularly vulnerable to the cost of living crisis, to help with the cost of household energy bills and other regular utility bills.

Household utility bills are defined as regular outgoing payments made to keep a household running. For more information on the fund please see our FAQs.

This funding has been made possible by Norfolk County Council working with the Department of Work & Pensions.

Making an application

VCSE organisations can typically apply for grant support for a maximum of 200 households in each application (equivalent value £10,000). If your charity wishes to support a higher number of households, please contact us for advice before applying.

You should also be in a position to act promptly to provide support to meet immediate needs once funding is awarded.

We will aim to review and process applications as quickly as possible.

Who can apply?

Funding will be available to VCSE organisations, including Parish/ Town Councils, taking an active role to respond to emerging needs in our communities over the coming months. Organisations applying are expected to already be connected to the people you aim to help through your other support services/ activities and have an understanding of their needs.

If you are a volunteer or informal (unconstituted) community group - such as a Good Neighbour Scheme - that is aware of people in your community who would benefit from this support, you may be able to connect with another local charity, or your local Parish Council, to enable them to receive help.
Please note, only Parish Councils with General Power of Competence are able to distribute funds to individuals. Further information and advice is available from the National Association of Local Councils.
In some cases, Voluntary Norfolk or Community Action Norfolk may be able to support your group to make an application, and/or receive a grant on your behalf if your group does not have a bank account. Please ensure you discuss your plans using the contact below, before applying.

Contact Community Action Norfolk and Voluntary Norfolk - clare.fiander@communityaction.org.uk

Exclusions

We cannot accept applications from individuals, businesses, public/ private health services, schools or other statutory body.

This Fund can only support household utility costs, this does not include food costs.

When to apply
Round 4 is open. Due to high demand in previous rounds of funding this fund will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and will close when all funds have been allocated.
Grants must be fully spent by 31st of March 2023 at the latest, but we encourage you to use this funding as soon as possible.

How to apply

Scroll down below and click 'Apply Online'.

Call for Applications

Closed

Maximum Grant

up to £10,000

Who can apply?

Charity, Faith organisation, Parish/Town Council, Social Enterprise/CIC, and Voluntary/Community Group

Eligible Area

Breckland, Broadland, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn & West Norfolk, North Norfolk, Norwich, and South Norfolk

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Norfolk Household Support Fund | Norfolk Community Foundation

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This fund is now closed. The Norfolk Household Support Fund (funded through the Norfolk County Council Cost of Living Support Scheme ) is returning to help with the rising costs of household utility bills. This round of funding can support any households who are particularly vulnerable to increasing energy costs.

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Children in Need Emergency Essentials Fund

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Children in Need Emergency Essentials Fund

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Children in Need emergency essentials fund, to help families meet children’s basic needs such as paying for beds, cooking equipment, clothing etc.
Applications must be submitted by a referrer working with the family/child as part of an org which can administer the grant.

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BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme - Family Fund Business Services

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Together with our parent charity, we deliver the BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme.

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Can a warm space offer low cost lunch, donation to tea and biscuits etc or does it need to be free? I read with interest the Martyn Lewis suggestions and the information from Camerados suggesting it is free?

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Can a warm space offer low cost lunch, donation to tea and biscuits etc or does it need to be free? I read with interest the Martyn Lewis suggestions and the information from Camerados suggesting it is free?

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Cost of Living Support - links to resources to help with food, debt, energy, money etc.

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Cost of Living Support - links to resources to help with food, debt, energy, money etc.

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Click this link to read more: Cost of Living Support (yourownplace.org.uk)

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Your Own Place is an award-winning social enterprise that has already delivered workshops to over 1100 people to prevent homelessness

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LUMi Stuff Hub - borrow equipment to run your warm space!

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LUMi Stuff Hub - borrow equipment to run your warm space!

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LUMi have an array of "stuff" available to borrow for free- including tools, games, soup urns, fairy lights...

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We are sharing our useful items to help people running community activities in Norwich to make life easier. After all, no one has infinite funding, so why waste money buying stuff when someone will let you borrow it?

A growing range of like-minded organisations have joined us in sharing Stuff. This makes it hard to include the items availability. But we think the benefits of offering groups a wider range of items more than makes up for that!

Check out what's being offered.

While you are at it why don't you grasp the spirit of sharing and dust off some of your stuff and share it too?
Share an item

Why buy when you can borrow?

Less storage headaches

Lower your environmental impact

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We are sharing our useful items to help people running community activities in Norwich to make life easier. After all, no one has infinite funding, so why waste money buying stuff when someone will let you borrow it? A growing range of like-minded organisations have joined us in sharing Stuff.

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Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service have launched a campaign to promote safe use of portable heaters.
The main fire risks are associated with people living alone (particularly older men) placing heaters too close to themselves, sofas or clothes. The main message is to keep heaters at least 1m away.
Please share NFRS posts on social media & request digital asset pack from us if needed!

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Norfolk Assistance Scheme for those in financial hardship

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Norfolk Assistance Scheme for those in financial hardship

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Direct link to the NAS info & application pages

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PrivacyPolicies.com

The Norfolk Assistance Scheme (NAS) helps people who are in financial hardship and cannot pay their living costs. There are many reasons why this might happen to you:

Redundancy

Work hours have been cut

On a low income or benefits

Waiting for Universal Credit payments

A home emergency such a fire or flood

Have a special educational need or disability

Have mental health issues or in ill health

Have left an abusive relationship

Have dependent children

In a resettlement scheme

If you are eligible we can:

Provide emergency financial help

Supply essential household goods and furniture

Give support, guidance and advice

You will need to complete an application with evidence of your financial situation.

Was this webpage helpful?

Click4Assistance UK Live Chat Software

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The Norfolk Assistance Scheme (NAS) provides support if you are in financial hardship and cannot pay your living costs. If you are eligible we can provide emergency financial help, supply essential household goods and furniture, and put you in touch with organisations who can give advice and guidance.

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Hubbub's national map of community fridges

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Reducing food waste and empowering communities

A community fridge is a space where everyone can share surplus food, including donations from local food businesses, producers, households and gardens.

Hubbub coordinates the world's largest Community Fridge Network with over 150 community fridges running around the UK. And thanks to Co-op, we'll be supporting a further 100 across the UK throughout the year!

The Community Fridge Network offers free guidance to groups wanting to set up their own community fridge, and provides comprehensive support, design assets, peer support, health and safety templates as well as discounted fridges and freezers! Read on to find or start your local fridge.
Annually The Community Fridge Network:

Redistributes around 3,145 tonnes of surplus food, that's the equivalent of 7,489,762 meals*!

Welcomes over 185,000 visitors

Our community fridges also do so much more than redistribute food, they help people to share skills, stuff and make friends! Find out more about our impact here.

About the Community Fridge Network
Hubbub coordinates the world's largest Community Fridge Network with over 150 community fridges running around the UK, and plenty more setting up. We offer comprehensive free support to groups to set up their own community fridge, from sign up and set up through to ongoing information and events to connect and celebrate with other fridges.
We first trialled the concept in Derbyshire, UK in 2016. At the time there were similar schemes in other countries like Spain and India, but none existed in the UK. As we developed the fridge model, the interest generated from community organisations, businesses and local authorities was immense. We received emails from community groups across the country (and globe!) wanting to set up fridges.

In 2017, to meet this demand, we founded the Community Fridge Network to help any individual or group to set up and run safe, inclusive and impactful fridges.

Now in 2021, we have an exciting new partnership with Co-op, helping to expand the network to 250 community fridges over the next year.

A community fridge can be accessed by anyone and everyone who wants to share food, volunteer or get involved with other food, environment or related activities the group have to offer. There are some rules on what you can andput in the fridge (for health and safety reasons) so make sure to check in advance before you visit.

Find, start or donate to your local community fridge. And follow the campaign on social media with the hashtag #CommunityFridge.
Sign up to our newsletter to hear about our creative environmental campaigns, how you can get involved, and lots of everyday ideas for greener living - twice a month, straight to your inbox. GET THE HUBBUB NEWSLETTER
Find a fridge near me

Use our UK fridge map below to find your nearest community fridge and here are a few ways you can get involved:

Spread the word with the hashtag #CommunityFridge.

Share surplus food that you're not going to use, perhaps you're a gardener, you're going on holiday or you're just about to move house.

Take food from the fridge to save you buying new and help reduce food waste.

Volunteer your time to support your local community fridge - you can help collect surplus food from shops, come up with plans for fundraising, promote the initiative locally or develop their activities!

Donate food

Each community fridge in our network rescues good quality, surplus food, free of charge from local food retailers, producers, growers, restaurants and households. By upholding the highest food hygiene standards and having a strict policy on low-risk food items, our groups can provide assurances to both the businesses donating, and visitors of the fridge sharing food.

We are proud to work with some fantastic partners who play a vital role in supporting this sharing of food, and we're keen to develop more local connections with food growers, manufacturers and retailers who, by sharing quality excess food, not only reduce wasted food and disposal costs, but directly support their local community. If that sounds like something you're interested in, get in touch to discuss how we can work together.

How to start your own fridge: become a member

If you're thinking about starting your own community fridge project, or have one already and would like to join the network to access all our membership benefits, then you're in luck! To get started simply:

1. Send us an email at [email protected] to find out how to get started.

2. Join the open community fridge Facebook group here.

3. Keep an eye out for our latest funding opportunities.

4. A member of our team will be in touch to discuss your next steps.

Grant funding

Depending on our partnerships and the funders of the Community Fridge Network we may provide funding for different areas across the UK. We have currently have two funding opportunities which are available:

Our Co-op Community Fridge Fund - Up to £4,000 available in the following areas: Cornwall, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, Cumbria, Shropshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Essex, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, North Yorkshire, Aberdeenshire, Belfast, Dumfries and Galloway, Perth and Kinross

Our Southwark Community Fridge Fund - Up to £4,000 available within the Southwark area.

Network impact: the difference made

Since Nov 2019, the Community Fridge Network (CFN) redistributed the equivalent of over 9 million meals* (over 4,000 tonnes of food surplus) to over 250,000 visitors.

With each fridge sharing an average of 2.4 tonnes of food per month, the collective impact of the Community Fridge Network is huge. What's more important though, are the stories that we hear from communities. The fridges bring people together, address social isolation and provide people with the opportunity to access healthy food, try something new and save money.

In a nutshell, a fridge is often so much more than a fridge. As well as introducing you to new people and foods, community fridges host all kinds of activities such as cooking workshops, food growing, clothes swaps... you name it.

The wonderful partnerships and impact being made by the network has also won awards! Our trophy shelf (or fridge) contains...

Retailers redistributing surplus food across the network include Co-op, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, Costa, Marks & Spencer, Riverford Organic, Spar, and many local businesses.

Want to find more ways to support your community and the environment?

Check out Community Calling, our smartphone redistribution campaign, or In Our Nature, an exciting community-led campaign across Manchester, to help residents respond to the climate emergency.

We've also got hundreds of other tips and ideas for things we can do every day to live more sustainably, like making food go further and eating more seasonally.

* WRAP Love Food Hate Waste May 2020
Read the terms & conditions of the Community Fridge Network here.

Latest

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Hubbub's new podcast series, passing the mic to activists, communities and volunteers making big changes in their local areas. Hear their stories and get inspired. Listen now! Read more

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A community fridge is a space where everyone can share surplus food, including donations from local food businesses, producers, households and gardens. Hubbub coordinates the world's largest Community Fridge Network with over 150 community fridges running around the UK. And thanks to Co-op, we'll be supporting a further 100 across the UK throughout the year!

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Cost of Living Page on Norfolk County Council website

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Cost of Living Page on Norfolk County Council website

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Help with living costs if you're struggling - includes money, food and career support

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Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially - this is their benefits calculator.

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Registered office: Hythe House, 200 Shepherds Bush Road, London W6 7NL. VAT number 872571796. Turn2us is the operating name of Elizabeth Finn Care, a registered charity (207812 / SC040987) and a company limited by guarantee (515297) registered in England and Wales. Copyright © 2022 Turn2us

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Registered office: Hythe House, 200 Shepherds Bush Road, London W6 7NL. VAT number 872571796. Turn2us is the operating name of Elizabeth Finn Care, a registered charity (207812 / SC040987) and a company limited by guarantee (515297) registered in England and Wales. Copyright © 2022 Turn2us

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Get a quick idea of the benefits you could get, including disability benefits and links to free and detailed benefit eligibility tools and calculators

Check how benefits and tax credits are paid - usually by direct credit transfer into bank, building society or Post Office card accounts. Find out about the Payment Exception Service if you can't use an account.

What you should do if you're volunteering while you're on benefits.

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Get a quick idea of the benefits you could get, including disability benefits and links to free and detailed benefit eligibility tools and calculators Check how benefits and tax credits are paid - usually by direct credit transfer into bank, building society or Post Office card accounts.

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Information from Catherine Van Battum, North Norfolk District Council:  "Norfolk Libraries are going with Warm Welcome to list their warm spaces"

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Warm Welcome wants everyone to access a warm and welcoming space in their local community, to connect with others, make new friends, and feel part of your community.

It's your open invitation to come in, keep warm, connect with others, and make new friends.

Our Impact

78%

of respondents saw an increase in the number of people visiting the building since becoming a Warm Welcome space.

74%

of spaces registered with Warm Welcome because they wanted to be part of something bigger.

70%

of spaces said that the campaign had helped the reputation of their organisation locally.

Stories from Visitors

Discover how Warm Welcome has changed lives for the better.

Stories from Spaces

Discover the heartwarming stories of spaces making a difference.

Healing and recovery

"Our warm haven provided a vital support system where ethnic minority women could come and share their stories, build friendships, develop resilience and a sense of worth. Supporting these women helped to rebuild their trust, self-confidence, self-esteem and the ability to move towards healing and recovery."

Shamina Newham Muslim Forum

Part of a movement

"It's great to be part of a movement, it fitted with our culture, our way of working with the community, especially vulnerable and excluded people. Before we joined, we were already thinking about what we could do to support our community through the cost of living crisis. We always have our spaces open everyday so it made great sense to tell people they could use the space as somewhere to keep warm as well."

CEO, Jacksons Lane Arts organisation

Shaped by needs

"People like it here as what we offer is shaped by their needs, it's their space. Many of the people are distrusting of other agencies, so this is a space where they can be themselves."

Unsworth, Washington, St Michael's Church and community space called Mickey's.

Meals together

"We knew that the worst time of day for those who are cold and isolated is in the evenings. So, we offered a warm space and evening meal. It's the time of day when people need to put their heating on, so they saved quite a bit of money coming here. We loved creating the menus and cooking and bringing people together. It meant that whole families could come together for a meal they haven't had to pay for. Vitally, children got a meal too.

Alongside food and drink we made sure there were activities, including board games that everyone could engage with.

We had one teenage boy with autism who really didn't like leaving his room. His foster carer persuaded him to come along, and he loved it. He started playing chess with another person and it really made a big impact on his life."

Oak Community Church based in Orpington SE London

What we do

The Warm Welcome Campaign tackles isolation and poverty in the UK by bringing local communities together, equipping, supporting, and connecting thousands of warm and welcoming spaces to help local people thrive.

We are building a movement for a fairer and friendlier society by supporting warm and welcoming spaces in every community in the UK.

Supporting Spaces

We will resource, celebrate, and connect Warm Welcome Spaces across the country, showing how communities can work together to turn poverty, disconnection and exclusion into warmth and local connection.

Access to all

We will ensure everyone has an open invitation to a warm and welcoming space so they can connect with others, get the support they need and feel part of their local community.

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The Warm Welcome Campaign exists to turn poverty and isolation into warmth and welcome through the power of local Spaces made by and for the community. ‍

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Best practice guidance from UK Libraries- but could be applied to other organisations offering warm spaces

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In Kind Direct are a UK charity focused on distributing consumer products, donated by companies, to charitable organisations to ensure that everyone has access to the products they need to keep clean, safe and well:

https://www.inkinddirect.org/about

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We work with charitable organisations and companies to ensure everyone has access to the products they need to keep clean, safe and well.

Why does product giving matter?

Living should mean thriving, not just getting-by and surviving. We know that giving people access to the products they need, isn't the solution to poverty, illness or disadvantage, but it can alleviate financial stress and enhance lives every day.

By working together, we can reach more people and more communities, enabling them to thrive. We already impact the lives of 445,000 people every week. With your support we can help even more. By working together we can make a difference.

We enable manufacturers and retailers to support communities at scale, with the most needed products.

5,740

charitable organisations supported

445,000

people reached every week

£25.8m

savings unlocked into the charity sector

2023 Impact report

We power product donations across the UK. We are the meeting point between our donating corporate partners and charitable organisations. We listen to our charitable network's needs and act fast to generate the most impact by sourcing the right product donations, at the right time.

Our charitable and corporate partners

We work closely with a range of corporate partners and charitable organisations to achieve our mission, ensuring everyone has access to life's essentials and that no usable product goes to waste.

Our collaboration extends to hundreds of companies, enabling us to support a much greater number of charities, and together provide vital supplies to millions of people each year. We partner with organisations who share our goals and values - making product giving easy, unlocking vital funds back into the voluntary sector, and enabling more people to thrive in communities across the UK.

Charitable partners

Corporate partners

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In Kind Direct creates partnerships with charitable & corporate partners to enable communities to thrive by facilitating access to products

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Karen from Multiply (Norfolk Adult Learning) has been in touch - Multiply could attend warm spaces to talk to people and if there is an interest, offer sessions.

For further information contact: karen.hooper@norfolk.gov.uk

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Multiply launches later this year. You will be able to take part if:

Good maths skills can help you find more job opportunities and lead to higher wages. Or they can help you prepare for further study.

They also help in everyday life, such as helping children with homework and budgeting money.

How to get involved

If you are interested in Multiply free maths courses in Norfolk, email us at multiply@norfolk.gov.uk.

We'd also like to hear from you if you are a course provider and you'd like to get involved.

More about Multiply

Multiply is a government-funded initiative. For more information visit the Skills for Life website.

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Multiply launches later this year. You will be able to take part if: Good maths skills can help you find more job opportunities and lead to higher wages. Or they can help you prepare for further study. They also help in everyday life, such as helping children with homework and budgeting money.

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Information from government about help for households

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Information from government about help for households

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What is Help for Households?
In response to increasing prices and the pressures around the cost of living, the Government has launched the 'Help for Households campaign' to raise awareness of the support available amongst those that need it most and help build consumer confidence. The campaign aims to explain the different schemes available (including new, exceptional one-off payments and existing benefits and schemes), and reassure the public of the actions that government - and businesses - are taking.

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Free Energy Saving Advice Sessions (BESN)

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Free Energy Saving Advice Sessions (BESN)

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Community Action Norfolk (CAN) have teamed up with the Big Energy Saving Network (BESN) to offer free 1 hour sessions on:
- Practical energy saving advice, support, and information.

-  Discussions on fuel poverty, cold homes, and the energy crisis.

- Covering support that is currently available to consumers and charities across Norfolk
Contact Emily Robertson at CAN if your community group, clients or team could benefit. 01362 698216 or emily.robertson@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk