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Selfcare, information & signposting to local services available to Surrey residents

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Supported by the Health and Wellbeing Board, this website helps you find self-care information, as well as signposting to local services available to you as a Surrey resident.

You don't need a referral for most of these - you can book an appointment yourself. Why not give it a go and make a change today?

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Supported by the Health and Wellbeing Board, this website helps you find self-care information, as well as signposting to local services available to you as a Surrey resident. You don't need a referral for most of these - you can book an appointment yourself. Why not give it a go and make a change today?

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Surrey Coalition - Cost of Living support

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Surrey Coalition - Cost of Living support

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Cost of Living Support - Surrey Coalition of Disabled People

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We know that the cost of living crisis is really having an impact on our members. We have been busy working behind the scenes to try and put in place some

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South West Surrey Citizens Advice - Energy Advice

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South West Surrey Citizens Advice - Energy Advice

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Energy Project - Citizens Advice South West Surrey

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Providing free, confidential and impartial advice

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Health & Wellbeing programmes to support Surrey residents

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One You Surrey | Free Healthy Lifestyle Service

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We are Surrey's free Healthy Lifestyle Service, supporting the county's residents to lose weight and become smoke free.

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For financial, welfare and wellbeing support for Surrey residents

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For financial, welfare and wellbeing support, you can access information online in our health and welfare support pages.

If you are unable to find the right help and support on these webpages you can speak with a member of our community helpline team. You can talk through your needs with them and they will help to point you in the right direction for financial, welfare or wellbeing support in Surrey.

Contact details

Call charges

Calls to 03 numbers from any network will cost no more than those to 01 and 02 numbers and count as part of any call package. The cost of calls per minute depends on the network. Please check with your provider. BT customers may be able to call 03 numbers for free.

Please note: Calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

Address

Contact Centre, First Floor, Dakota, De Havilland Drive, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0YP

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You can speak with a member of our Community Helpline Team who can talk through your needs with you and point you in the right direction for financial, welfare or wellbeing support.

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Home Energy Advice Team - Surrey County Council

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The Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) is an innovative approach to tackling energy inefficiency across Surrey. Providing free energy efficiency assessments.

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Welcome to the Surrey Five Ways to Wellbeing

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A way to think about the things you can do to help improve your mood, reduce the risk of depression and strengthen your relationships

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We believe that successful firefighting starts with prevention. So we have introduced a service where we can visit you, a loved one, or someone you care for at home to provide personalised advice about fire safety.

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Surrey Fire & Rescue - Safe and Well visits

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Surrey Fire & Rescue - Safe and Well visits

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Surrey Fire and Rescue service - Safe and well checks for your home - Surrey County Council

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Advice on making a fire escape plan, what to do if escape routes are blocked or clothes are on fire,how to get extra help by requesting a safe and well visit.

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Home energy advice leaflets - Centre for Sustainable Energy

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Advice on insulation, energy bills, using heating controls, smart meters, boilers, heat pumps, solar panels, meters, heaters and more

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Facts, figures and key information about fuel poverty. Including information the health dangers of living in cold damp homes.

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Energy advice & Management of local grants

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Action Surrey - Surrey's Low Carbon Community

Call us:

Keep up with the latest news, events and blog posts...

Local Authority Delivery Project Achievements

2,500 residents helped

1,073 tonnes of CO₂ saved

710 properties improved

Read some testimonials from our residents

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Action Surrey - Surrey's Low Carbon Community

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Action Surrey - Surrey's Low Carbon Community Call us: Keep up with the latest news, events and blog posts... 2,500 residents helped 1,073 tonnes of CO2 saved 710 properties improved Read some testimonials from our residents

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Spotting the signs of fuel poverty: home visits

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Fuel poverty: know the signs – Green Doctors London

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In the UK, 1 in 7 household are living in fuel poverty, unable to afford to effectively heat their homes. A situation made worse by high energy prices, dwindling household incomes and low standards of domestic energy efficiency including poor quality housing stock.

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Overview | Excess winter deaths and illness and the health risks associated with cold homes | Guidance | NICE

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This guideline covers reducing the health risks (including preventable deaths) associated with living in a cold home. It aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people vulnerable to the cold. Improving the temperature in homes, by improving energy efficiency, may also help reduce unnecessary fue…

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Surrey Fire & Rescue - Safe and well visits

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Surrey Fire & Rescue - Safe and well visits

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Many fires at home start accidentally and can have a devastating impact on the occupants and their possessions. Knowing how to reduce the risk of fire in your home is an important part of living safe and well.

The best way to keep safe from fire is to understand common fire hazards and reduce the risk from them in your home. Using the NFCC home fire safety checker is a great first step to fire safety in the home.
Free online home fire safety check
This easy-to-follow home fire safety check has been developed through a partnership between the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), Fire Kills and Safelincs. It will take you through your home one room at a time and the simple questions will help you spot fire potential Hazards as you go around your home.

The tool will offer tips and advice on the steps you can take to reduce the risk of a fire. At the end, you will receive a personalised fire safety action plan to help keep you and your household safe.

The information will be shared with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service if you need additional care and attention; a member of the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Team will be in touch to arrange a free Safe and Well visit to your home to ensure that you are safe.

Alternatively you can book your free safe and well visit by:

Calling us free on 0800 085 0767

Text/SMS 07971 691898

About Safe and Well visits

We believe that successful firefighting starts with prevention. So we have introduced a service where we can visit you, a loved one, or someone you care for at home to provide personalised advice about fire safety.

It's totally free, available 24/7, and we will even fit free smoke alarms during the visit if you need them.

We'll visit your home at the arranged time, day or night, and share our expertise. The visit is friendly and informal, and there's no need to tidy up or provide refreshments we're here to keep you safe, not for the tea! After a chat about fire prevention, we'll ask you to show us around your home so we can provide personalised advice on:

Cooking and smoking

Heaters and heating

Candles and fireplaces

Detection systems (smoke and heat alarms)

Bedtime checks

What to do if there is a fire

Extra help and support

Depending on your personal circumstances, we might also suggest extra help and support from other organisations. This could be to discuss things like fire retardant bedding or linking a smoke alarm to your Telecare system.

Do you know someone at risk?

We're committed to making sure everyone in our community has the right protection and prevention advice to help them maintain their safety, independence and quality of life. However, the following factors can increase a person's risk and vulnerability to fire, and reduce their ability to escape if a fire starts.

If you know or work directly with anyone who would answer yes to the following statements, please give them our details to arrange a free Home Fire Safety Visit. If they would prefer, you can also organise a visit on their behalf.

Smokes in their home

Is over the age of 60

Lives alone

Has: a) limited mobility, b) a hearing impairment or c) is blind or partially sighted

Would have difficulty responding to, or escaping from, a fire

Has had a fire before, or shows signs of burns or scorching in the home

Has learning disabilities

Is supported by family, carers and friends

Has a mental health condition such as dementia or depression

Has drug or alcohol dependencies

Doesn't have an alarm in all areas where a fire might start

Collects or hoards in their home

Are you, or are they, the parent or carer of a child or young person who set fires

Please let us know about your Safe and Well visit

As you have received a Safe and Well visit from us recently, we would appreciate if you could complete this short questionnaire to tell us how we did.
Safe and well visit feedback form

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Surrey Fire and Rescue service - Safe and well checks for your home - Surrey County Council

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Advice on making a fire escape plan, what to do if escape routes are blocked or clothes are on fire,how to get extra help by requesting a safe and well visit.

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JSNA Housing and Related Support | Surrey-i

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This chapter was published in January 2024 and is due to be reviewed by January 2026

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Following the energy price cap announced by Ofgem, energy bills are set to increase significantly from October, and again in January 2023. Every household will be offered a £400 energy grant by the Government to help this winter, but this won't cover the extra cost. However, there are some ways you can reduce your energy usage:

Save £125 a year - draught-proof windows and doors

Save £95 a year - keep your shower time to just 4 minutes

Save £70 a year - set your boiler's flow temperature between 55 - 60 degrees *

Save £70 a year - avoid using the tumble dryer

Save £70 a year - insulate your hot water cylinder

Save £65 a year - switch appliances off standby mode

Save £43 a year - don't overfill the kettle and fit an aerator onto your tap

Save £34 a year - wash at 30ºC and do one less wash a week

Save £25 a year - turn off lights when not needed.

Save £20 a year - swap one bath a week for a shower

Save £17 a year - reduce your dishwasher use by one run per week.

Source: The Energy Saving Trust. Visit their website for further help and advice for heating your home.

*Source: The Heating Hub

How we can support you

£25,000 to help reduce energy bills this Winter

Grants of up to £25,000 are now available for eligible Surrey residents to help make their homes warmer and more energy efficient. People living in hard to heat homes and on lower incomes could receive grants between £10,000 and £25,000 to improve insulation and install renewable technology such as solar electricity panels, which help reduce energy costs. Check if you are eligible by visiting the Action Surrey website or by calling an advisor on 0800 783 2503.

Energy Advice Tool coming soon

The Energy Advice Tool is currently under development and is expected to launch in November 2022. Please check back in the future for updates.

Our Energy Advice Tool will be designed to help any Surrey resident with their energy use. Answer a short series of questions and we'll provide you with information tailored to your personal circumstances. Based on the answers you give, you will receive a list of options available to you, which can help:

Reduce energy use

Find free or part funded schemes to make your home more energy efficient

Signpost you to debt relief grants

The tool will be updated regularly with new schemes and offerings, so check back regularly for updates.

We will also run in-person sessions which can help with this tool throughout our "Warm Hub" network. For more information about "Warm Hubs" visit the our welfare support web pages under the "Local Support to Stay Warm" section.

Support from others

Contact your electricity and gas suppliers for advice, payment breaks, grants and free equipment such as eco shower heads

Water Companies offering discounts to eligible residents details can be found here:

South East Water: Help paying your bill | South East Water

SES Water: Help paying your bill | SES Water

Thames Water: Financial support | Account and billing | Help | Thames Water

Affinity Water: Struggling to pay your bill? - Affinity Water

For advice on how to reduce your energy use and carbon footprint, call Action Surrey on 0800 783 2503 to speak with an energy advisor or email them at info@actionsurrey.org.

Go to a Warmth Matters Energy Club for free advice on saving energy and reducing energy bills or call them on 07521 503 696

Citizens Advice Bureau can offer help to complete forms to access grants.

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Following the energy price cap announced by Ofgem, energy bills are set to increase significantly from October, and again in January 2023. Every household will be offered a £400 energy grant by the Government to help this winter, but this won't cover the extra cost.

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A summary of the 2023 headline fuel poverty figures and the key characteristics of the fuel poor in 2023.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alt.formats@energysecurity.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

The 2024 fuel poverty factsheet summarises the 2023 headline fuel poverty figures and the key characteristics of the fuel poor in 2023 under the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency ( LILEE) indicator.

If you have questions about these statistics, please email: fuelpoverty@energysecurity.gov.uk.

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A summary of the 2023 headline fuel poverty figures and the key characteristics of the fuel poor in 2023.

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Dashboard of fuel poverty and consumption in Surrey as well as other associated datasets which may be relevant to fuel poverty

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Fuel Poverty and related statistics - Surrey-i

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Fuel Poverty and related statistics - Surrey-i

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Home Energy Improvement One-Stop Shop - Surrey County Council

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Surrey’s new end-to-end expert support service for households that wish to install energy saving measures and future-proof their homes

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Advice sessions for groups and individuals at various locations across Surrey, helping households with a mixture of light-touch advice at events, face-to-face appointments at community venues and telephone support

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Warmth Matters - Surrey Community Action 

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Warmth Matters - Surrey Community Action 

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Local venues that Surrey residents can access for a free hot drink and other support services between November and March.

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Our Warm Welcome Scheme for 2023/24 has now closed. However, many community venues remain open all year round and details of the services provided can be found on the map below.

For further cost of living information and support, please visit our Health and Welfare Support page.

If you are unable to find the right help and support on these webpages you can speak with a member of our community helpline team. You can talk through your needs with them and they will help to point you in the right direction for financial, welfare or wellbeing support in Surrey.

Find community support near you

There are many community venues across Surrey in a variety of spaces including community and church halls and leisure centres.

The map below shows where these venues are currently located within Surrey. To find a venue near you either click on a marker, type in your postcode or find a venue within a five mile radius using the 'near me' option in the map menu.

Alternatively, you can see a list of all the venues in Surrey.

View larger map

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The map below shows where Warm Welcome Spaces are currently located within Surrey. These are places where you can drop in, get warm and meet others

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The Surrey Crisis Fund is a discretionary fund run by Surrey County Council. It provides financial help to Surrey residents who have nowhere else to turn in an emergency or following a disaster.

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Important Notice - January 2023

We are currently experiencing very high demand for our services and there may be a delay in responding to your application.

Please note, we aim to respond to applications within three working days for applications for financial assistance and five working days for applications for assistance with white goods and furniture.

Applications can be submitted during the week between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday.

This scheme cannot provide any replacement white goods or furniture.
All awards are discretionary, and all applications will be subject to financial assessment and qualifying criteria.
Page contents

About the fund

The Surrey Crisis Fund is a discretionary fund run by Surrey County Council. It has been running since 1 April 2013, and was formerly known as the Local Assistance Scheme. It provides financial help to Surrey residents who have nowhere else to turn in an emergency or following a disaster. It also can provide assistance to set up a home in the community where no other funds or resources are available.

What help is available?

The fund can provide support for immediate needs after a disaster or in an emergency, where no other options are available. We may be able to assist with:

food and toiletries

essential white goods and furniture; please note we do not provide replacement items

certain utilities

emergency travel costs (hospital appointments, job interviews, etc)

Other support may be available and this will be considered when you apply.

Repeat applications will be considered but the fund aims to support people for one occasion and signpost to long-term help to prevent ongoing need.

If you are experiencing difficulties with debt, we are unfortunately not able to help directly but there is advice and support available at the Breathing Space debt support page.

We do not help with the following:

Replacement white goods

Replacement furniture

School uniforms

Flooring/carpeting

Boiler replacements or repairs

Removal and storage costs

Television or satellite cost or repair

TV license

Housing costs; arrears or rent, or repairs

Costs normally met by state support or benefits including Universal Credit

Installation of a telephone or telephone line

Costs associated with care provision

Non-essential white goods and domestic appliances

Utility, tax or insurance bills

Who can get help from the Surrey Crisis Fund?

To be eligible for the fund you must be:

at least 16 years old

able to prove that you are a Surrey resident or prove that you intend to live in Surrey within the next 28 days

on a means-tested benefit or unable to access sufficient funds

You must also need:

emergency funds to meet the basic needs of yourself or your dependents and/or:

support to set up a home in the community

Support to set up a home in the community may be available where:

you are moving into a partially furnished or unfurnished property and

do not have basic essential household items/white goods and

do not have the means to provide these items for yourself.

There may be other exceptional circumstances which can be considered when you apply.

Applications for white goods/household items will be considered no more than one week prior to the tenancy start date.

If you are in need of emergency funds because you are waiting for your next benefit payment, before you apply to the Surrey Crisis Fund you must first ask the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at a Jobcentre Plus office if you qualify for a Budgeting Loan, or if you are on Universal Credit, a Budgeting Advance.

If you are applying for Universal Credit for the first time and you are in need of assistance you must apply for a Universal Credit Advance; you will need to discuss this with your Jobcentre Plus advisor and you may be asked for evidence of this discussion.

Who cannot get help from the fund?

If your benefit payments have been sanctioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) then you will not qualify for assistance. In this instance you must contact Jobcentre Plus to apply for a Hardship Payment, your eligibility for this will be assessed by the DWP. If you do not agree with your sanction you should appeal this decision to the DWP.

Applying through Citizens Advice

Currently, due to the ongoing pandemic, most Citizens Advice offices are closed for face-to-face drop in access, but clients can still access support from Citizens Advice by email and phone and some Citizens Advice offices may be able to offer limited face to face appointments. You can find your local office's contact details on the Citizen Advice Bureau website, if you require help with making an application.

If you are unable to get help with your application from Citizens Advice, please email us.

If you cannot send an email, please contact the Surrey Community Helpline on 0300 200 1008, and they will take your details and pass them to us. Calls to 03 numbers from any network will cost no more than those to 01 and 02 numbers and count as part of any call package. The cost of calls per minute depends on the network. Please check with your provider. BT customers may be able to call 03 numbers for free.

Where can I find out more?

Please read the Surrey Crisis Fund policy. If you have a general enquiry about the scheme, please send an us an email and someone from the team will be in touch within three working days.

Email: surreycrisisfund@surreycc.gov.uk

How do I apply?

If you are applying for financial assistance, we will aim to contact you within three working days; if you are applying for assistance with furniture and/or white goods, we will aim to contact you within five working days. We will call between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
If you are in receipt of Universal Credit, please select 'Other' on the income section of the form. APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED AND WILL REOPEN AT 10AM TOMORROW, 13/01/23
Accessibility

If you have a disability that prevents you from using our online form, please call the Surrey Community Helpline on 0300 200 1008.

Next steps

You will be called from 0331 143 5555; please save this number in your phone as Surrey Crisis Fund to avoid our calls being ignored. If we cannot speak to you after three attempts, your claim will be rejected and you will need to reapply if still in emergency need.

You cannot call us, but can email us at surreycrisisfund@surreycc.gov.uk if you would like a call at a specific time; we cannot guarantee that we will call you 'on the dot' but will do our best to call around that time.

If you have no access to the internet, you may get help to access the internet at your local library or by visiting your local Citizens Advice office who can help you to apply online.

Please note: Never use the copy/paste function to enter information in the form. If you do this, the system may not recognise that you have completed that field and may not allow you to continue. If you have done this you will need to remove the information from the form and re-enter it before continuing.

Once you have submitted your online application, you (or your representative) must be available by telephone between the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday. This will enable us to complete your application and make a decision on any help we can provide. If you have no access to a working telephone, please visit your local Citizen's Advice Office for assistance.
This is an emergency service, therefore if you are not available for us to speak to within three working days, your application will be cancelled and you will need to make a new application.
If you are applying on behalf of someone else: Please ensure you understand what we can help with and that you have permission from that person to apply to the Surrey Crisis Fund. Please ensure all information entered is accurate and up to date, as any errors may result in a delay to the application. Please also ensure that the person is aware that an application has been made and is expecting our call to complete the application.

Please Note: The Surrey Crisis fund officers are here to try to help you. They will treat you fairly and with respect. In return, we expect you to treat our team members politely and respectfully. Verbal abuse of any kind will not be tolerated. If any verbal abuse is directed towards our team members, the call may be terminated and you will not get any assistance. Such behaviour may also result in a permanent ban from the fund.

What if I am not happy with the outcome?

If you are not happy with the outcome of your application you can ask for the application to be reviewed. In such cases an independent person from within the team will undertake the review. The review will take place immediately where possible and the same working day when it is not.

If you are not happy with the way your application was handled, you should follow the council's complaints procedure. If you are not happy with the outcome of this, then you can make a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman.

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We are currently experiencing very high demand for our services and there may be a delay in responding to your application. Please note, we aim to respond to applications within three working days for applications for financial assistance and five working days for applications for assistance with white goods and furniture.

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Get advice on dealing with debt, bailiffs, bankruptcy, pensions, tax and more.

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 Recommendations for financial support and measures to improve energy efficiency in your home

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Apply for support from the Great British Insulation Scheme

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Check if you can get free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills - including cavity wall insulation and loft insulation.

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National Energy Action is the national charity, helping you with your energy bills. This leaflet helps if you owe your gas or electricity supplier money. You’re not alone – help…

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Home energy advice leaflets - Centre for Sustainable Energy

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Advice on insulation, energy bills, using heating controls, smart meters, boilers, heat pumps, solar panels, meters, heaters and more

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Home energy advice leaflets - Centre for Sustainable Energy

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Advice on insulation, energy bills, using heating controls, smart meters, boilers, heat pumps, solar panels, meters, heaters and more

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Home energy advice leaflets - Centre for Sustainable Energy

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Advice on insulation, energy bills, using heating controls, smart meters, boilers, heat pumps, solar panels, meters, heaters and more

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Home energy advice leaflets - Centre for Sustainable Energy

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Advice on insulation, energy bills, using heating controls, smart meters, boilers, heat pumps, solar panels, meters, heaters and more

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Home energy advice leaflets - Centre for Sustainable Energy

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Advice on insulation, energy bills, using heating controls, smart meters, boilers, heat pumps, solar panels, meters, heaters and more

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Home energy advice leaflets - Centre for Sustainable Energy

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Advice on insulation, energy bills, using heating controls, smart meters, boilers, heat pumps, solar panels, meters, heaters and more

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Home energy advice leaflets - Centre for Sustainable Energy

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Advice on insulation, energy bills, using heating controls, smart meters, boilers, heat pumps, solar panels, meters, heaters and more

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Support when there’s an interruption to your electricity, gas or water supply.

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The Priority Services Register (PSR) is free to join. It helps utility companies, including energy suppliers, electricity, gas and water networks like us to look after customers who have extra communication, access or safety needs. It helps us tailor our services to support households who need extra help with everyday energy matters like bills, and also in the unlikely event of a power cut, gas or water supply interruption.

We're working together to make sure that your property receives all the support services covered by the Priority Services Register. By telling us once, we update your PSR request with your energy supplier (the company you pay your bills to) and your regional network companies including electricity, gas and water.

The PSR promise is made by all participating energy companies in England, Wales and Scotland. We will always follow privacy laws and your PSR information will never be used for marketing.

If you already know which company delivers your electricity or gas, just click on the links below for extra information and to register.

Or if you are unsure, just enter your postcode above to find out and be directed to your electricity and gas company.

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The PSR - The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free UK wide service which provides extra advice and support, including when there's an interruption to your electricity or gas supply - PSR

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The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free UK wide service which provides extra advice and support, including when there's an interruption to your electricity or gas supply.

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NHS advice about healthy living, including eating a balanced diet, healthy weight, exercise, quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol.

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NHS advice about healthy living, including eating a balanced diet, healthy weight, exercise, quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol.

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Healthy eating advice from the NHS

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The Eatwell Guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.
You do not need to achieve this balance with every meal, but try to get the balance right over a day or even a week.

Most of us still are not eating enough fruit and vegetables. They should make up just over a third of the food we eat each day.

Aim to eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and veg each day. Choose from fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or juiced.

Remember that fruit juice and smoothies should be limited to no more than a combined total of 150ml a day.

Fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre.
Find out more about how to get your 5 A Day

Starchy food should make up just over a third of the food we eat. Choose higher fibre or wholegrain varieties, such as wholewheat pasta and brown rice, or simply leave the skins on potatoes.

There are also higher fibre versions of white bread and pasta.

Starchy foods are a good source of energy and the main source of a range of nutrients in our diet.
Find out more about starchy foods

These foods are good sources of protein, vitamins and minerals. Pulses, such as beans, peas and lentils, are good alternatives to meat because they're low in fat and they're a good source of fibre and protein, too.

Choose lean cuts of meat and mince, and eat less red and processed meat like bacon, ham and sausages.

Aim for at least 2 portions (2 x 140g) of fish every week, 1 of which should be oily, such as salmon, sardines or mackerel.

Find out about fish and meat.

Milk, cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais are good sources of protein and some vitamins, and they're also an important source of calcium, which helps keep our bones healthy.

Try to go for lower-fat and lower-sugar products where possible, like semi-skimmed, skimmed or 1% fat milk, reduced-fat cheese or plain low-fat yoghurt.
Find out more about milk and dairy foods

Unsaturated fats are healthier fats and include vegetable, rapeseed, olive and sunflower oils.

Remember all types of fat are high in energy and should be eaten in small amounts.
Find out more about the different types of fat in our diet

These foods include chocolate, cakes, biscuits, sugary soft drinks, butter, ghee and ice cream.

They're not needed in our diet, so should be eaten less often and in smaller amounts.
Get tips on cutting down on sugar

Water, lower-fat milks, lower-sugar or sugar-free drinks and tea and coffee all count.

Fruit juice and smoothies also count towards your fluid consumption, but they contain free sugars that can damage teeth, so limit these drinks to a combined total of 150ml a day.
Find out more about water, drinks and your health

How does the Eatwell Guide work?

The Eatwell Guide divides the foods and drinks we consume into 5 main food groups.

Try to choose a variety of different foods from each of the groups to help you get the wide range of nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.

It's important to get some fat in your diet, but foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar have been placed outside of the main Eatwell Guide as they're not necessary as part of a healthy, balanced diet and most of us need to cut down on these.

Unsaturated fats from plant sources (for example, vegetable oil or olive oil) are healthier types of fat.

But all types of fat are high in energy (calories), so they should only be eaten in small amounts.

On average, women should have around 2,000 calories a day (8,400 kilojoules) and men should have around 2,500 calories a day (10,500 kilojoules). We all need different amounts of energy (or calories) from food to be a healthy weight. How much you need depends on lots of things, including how active you are.

Find out how food labels can help you choose between foods and pick those lower in fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt.

Combination foods

Many foods, such as pizzas, casseroles, pasta dishes and sandwiches, are combinations of the food groups in the Eatwell Guide.

With these meals, check the ingredients and think about how these fit with the sections on the guide to help you achieve a balanced diet.

Does the Eatwell Guide apply to everyone?

The Eatwell Guide applies to most of us, whether we're a healthy weight or overweight, whether we eat meat or are vegetarian, and no matter what our ethnic origin.

Anyone with special dietary requirements or medical needs might want to check with a registered dietitian on how to adapt the Eatwell Guide to meet their individual needs.

Children under the age of 2

The Eatwell Guide does not apply to children under the age of 2 because they have different nutritional needs.

Between the ages of 2 and 5, children should gradually move to eating the same foods as the rest of the family in the proportions shown in the Eatwell Guide.

Read more about babies, toddlers and young children's nutritional needs in Your baby's first solid foods.

Download the Eatwell Guide booklet

For more information, including details of which foods are included in the food groups, download GOV.UK's The Eatwell Guide.

Healthy eating support

Food and diet advice on the NHS website includes:

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Read about the interactive Eatwell Guide, which shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.

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Advice and recipes from the NHS

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Make a change today! Discover healthy recipes, food swaps, nutritional advice, and top tips and activities to help the whole family stay healthy.

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The six principles of healthy eating

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A healthy balanced diet | British Nutritional Foundation

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The key to a healthy eating is having a balance of different foods and nutrients in your diet. Although there is no ‘one size fits all’ healthy diet, there are six principles we recommend.

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Healthy eating tips for older adults

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All adults need a varied and balanced diet to ensure we get enough essential vitamins and minerals. We also need to make healthy choices when it comes to our lifestyles.

As we age, there are some elements of diet, nutrition and lifestyle we may need to change or pay more attention to. It is also common to become less interested in food. You may find that you are less hungry than you used to be, so it can be harder to get all the nutrients needed for good health.

Our sense of taste and smell can change as we age, which can affect our appetite and how much we like food. Make foods as tempting and tasty as possible so that eating stays enjoyable. Try varying colours and textures as much as possible or adding herbs and spices such as mint, rosemary, cinnamon or paprika.
Dr Stacey Lockyer, Senior Nutrition Scientist, British Nutrition Foundation

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables contain many vitamins and minerals essential for good health. They are also generally low in fat and high in fibre. Many studies have shown that people who consume diets high in fruit and vegetables have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some forms of cancer.

We should all be aiming for at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day. This includes fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables, as well as smoothies and 100% fruit juices.

Did you know?

Beans and pulses, such as kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils and baked beans, can also count towards your 5 A DAY target

One portion is about 80g.

Choose healthier fats

There are two main kinds of fat: saturated and unsaturated. Eating a diet rich in saturated fat can raise your blood cholesterol level and increase your risk of heart disease. Reducing saturated fat and replacing some of it with unsaturated fat can reduce your risk of heart disease..

Butter, lard, ghee, palm oil and coconut oil contain a high proportion of saturated fat. Other foods with a relatively high saturated fat content include cakes, chocolate, biscuits, pies and pastries. The white fat you see on red meat and underneath poultry skin is also high in saturated fat.

Vegetable oils (such as rapeseed, olive, sunflower, soya, sesame oils) and fat spreads made from these oils are a healthier alternative to saturated fats. These are high in unsaturated fatty acids. Oily fish, including mackerel, sardines, pilchards and salmon, contain unsaturated fats called omega-3 fats, which can also help heart health.

It's easy to make small changes to cut back on saturated fat. Here's some examples of simple swaps you can make to reduce the amount of saturated fat you consume:

Include oily fish in your diet

All fish and shellfish provide us with a range of vitamins and minerals, but oily fish, such as herring, salmon and mackerel, are rich in omega-3 fats which may help protect against heart disease. For this reason, we are advised to eat at least two portions (140g cooked weight) of fish a week, one of which should be oily fish.

There is currently a lot of interest in the role of these fats on many other age-related conditions. For example, some research suggests they may help to alleviate some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. But because oily fish can contain contaminants you should not eat more than four portions per week (or one portion of swordfish as this may be high in mercury).

For more information on fish read this page on fish and shellfish from the NHS.

Healthy eating tips for older people

Get enough fibre

Eating plenty of fibre-rich foods, such as wholegrains (like wholegrain breads, wholegrain breakfast cereals, brown rice, wholemeal pasta), fruit, vegetables and pulses (like lentils, kidney beans and chickpeas), will improve digestive health and can help to protect against heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

High-fibre foods may help you to stay fuller for longer so can be useful if you are watching your weight. It is also important to drink enough fluids or water when eating a diet high in fibre.

Stay well hydrated

Older people are at greater risk of dehydration than younger people. Our thirst sensation can decrease as we age so it is easy for dehydration to go unnoticed.

Early signs of dehydration include dizziness, tiredness and headaches. Long-term mild dehydration increases the risk of kidney stones, constipation and cholesterol problems.

Six to eight drinks are recommended each day to replace fluid that is lost from the body. Water is a great choice but tea, coffee and fruit juice all count. You will need to drink more if the weather is hot or humid or if you are physically active

Reduce your salt intake

Salt (sodium chloride) is the main source of sodium in our diet. While a small amount of sodium in the diet is necessary for health, it can raise blood pressure (raised blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease).

Adults should eat less than 6g (about a teaspoon) of salt per day. The food industry is reducing the amount of salt in many foods, but a lot of the salt we eat is already added to the foods we buy, and it is important to look at the labels to select lower salt options. For more information read our page on looking at labels.

Did you know?

A decreasing sense of taste as we age can encourage us to add more salt to meals for flavour.

Watch the amount you add at the table, and try to use herbs, spices and a variety of different foods or ingredients to flavour meals instead of adding salt.

Mind your micronutrients

We can't make (most) vitamins and minerals in our body so we must get them from our diet.

Boosting your B vitamins

B vitamins have a range of important functions in the body, including contributing to healthy red blood cells, releasing energy from the foods we eat, normal nerve function and vision, healthy skin, and reducing tiredness.

Sources of B vitamins in the diet include:

Folate/folic acid: Some green vegetables, and fortified grains and grain products

Vitamin B6: Fortified cereals, peanuts, pork, poultry, fish, milk and vegetables

Vitamin B12: Animal products (such as fish, meat, eggs, or dairy), fortified breakfast cereals and other fortified foods such as soya drink

Calcium-rich foods

Calcium is important to keep our bones healthy. After the menopause, women are at a higher risk of osteoporosis and reduced bone density. This is because the hormone oestrogen helps to reduce bone breakdown and after the menopause, less oestrogen is produced. So, it is particularly important that older women get plenty of calcium from their diet to minimise bone loss.

Milk, cheese and yogurt are rich in calcium, but other sources include fish with edible bones (such as canned salmon or sardines), some green leafy vegetables like kale, calcium fortified soy products (such as soya drink, tofu), white bread and fortified breakfast cereals.

You should be able to get all the calcium you need from your diet, but if you do take calcium supplements, be careful not to take too much - stick to less than 1500mg per day

Vitamin D supplements

Vitamin D plays a key role in bone health and muscle function. Low levels of vitamin D can increase the risk of falls and fracture.

The Government recommends that, all adults should consider taking a daily 10µg (micrograms) vitamin D supplement between October and March.

During the autumn and winter months, sunlight isn't strong enough to make enough vitamin D in our skin. It can be difficult for us to get enough vitamin D from our diet alone because it is only found in a limited number of foods including oily fish, eggs, and vitamin D fortified foods such as some breakfast cereals, fat spreads and dairy products.

People at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency should take a daily supplement containing 10µg of vitamin D throughout the year. For example, those living in a care home, housebound or who wear clothes that cover most of the skin while outside. People with darker skin are also at higher risk.

Supplements should not replace a healthy diet

There are some people that will be prescribed supplements, for example iron supplements for iron deficiency anaemia. Some people choose to take other supplements because they believe they will benefit their health, but we don't have strong evidence that taking supplements benefits our health.

If you do decide to take supplements, it's important to remember that supplements do not replace a balanced diet! It is also important to remember that supplements can be harmful if you take too much, so don't take more than it says on the label.

For example, according to some research, having more than an average of 1.5mg a day of vitamin A over many years may affect your bones, making them more likely to fracture. This is important for older people, especially women, who are at higher risk of osteoporosis (weak bones). If you take supplements containing vitamin A, make sure your daily intake from food and supplements is not more than 1.5 mg (1,500 µg). You often find vitamin A in multivitamins and in fish oil supplements. Also if you eat liver or liver pate more than once a week, you may get too much vitamin A.

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Nutrition for older people - British Nutrition Foundation

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As we age, there are some elements of diet, nutrition and lifestyle we may need to change or pay more attention to including dehydration and malnutrition.

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Child and family healthy weight programme for families that live or are registered to a GP in Surrey.

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About Be Your Best

BYB can help all parents with online advice, but families who might need an extra hand to manage their child's weight can get further, personal support at home, plus learn more on online group sessions.

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About Be Your Best BYB can help all parents with online advice, but families who might need an extra hand to manage their child's weight can get further, personal support at home, plus learn more on online group sessions.

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A short video from MIND

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How to manage your mood with food | 8 tips

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Learn more about what is in your food and how to cook it with a range of short courses

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Cookery and nutrition adult learning courses

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Nutrition courses, nutrition for menopause and range of practical cookery courses and workshops from learn to cook to mastering technical skills

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Information about support in Surrey for money, debt and mental health and who to talk to about your money worries

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The latest report in our flagship Hunger in the UK research series provides a ‘state of the nation’ look at the scale and drivers of food bank provision and food insecurity across the UK.