Cost Of Living Support
Select from the area drop-down menus below to find the support available to you.
This page will be regularly updated with information to support you with the current cost of living.
If you’re aware of anything we can add to this page to signpost to, please contact marketing@cfirst.org.uk
Across Hampshire
Connect To Support – Various information advice from help with food to debt and money worries and to keeping your home warm and repair cafes.
Warm Welcome – Use this site to search for Warm Hubs by postcode.
Hampshire libraries – Libraries are offering themselves as hubs, they are manned, lit, and warm, and have learning resources, computers, daily paper, and free wifi.
Warm Hubs Grants – Community organisations wishing to create Warm Hubs in Hampshire, can now apply to the County Council for a Leader’s Community Grant of up to £5,000 to support their work.
Energy Bill Scams – Consumers have been warned about scam messages claiming people need to apply for government energy bill support and asking them to provide bank details.
Charity Worker Discounts – Exclusive discounts, cashback & vouchers for Charity Workers & Volunteers. Members save on average £2,262 a year.
Government Support – The government has announced the following immediate, short-term action to support households.
Setting Up A Warm Space In Your Community – Tips and advice on how to set up your own Warm Space to help your local community.
Help for Households campaign: social tariffs – The government has worked with a range of Internet Service Providers (IPSs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to deliver low-cost broadband and phone service packages, called social tariffs, for those on low incomes.
2022 / 2023 Stay Safe, Warm and Well Guide – As we head into the colder months, make sure you’re staying safe, warm and well. A helpful guide has been put together, filled with useful advice and practical information.
Attendance Allowance – You could claim up to £92.40 every week.
Co-op Match Fund – If you are able to run a Crowdfunder for your warm space and attract some donations, Co-op will match. They’re matching up to £3000 (funding boost).
Havant
Citizens Advice Havant – Benefits checks available : First Floor, 57 Meridian Shopping Centre.
Heart Of The Park – The Community Centre’s Café is open Monday -Thursday 9.00am- 2.30pm
Park Play : Monday to Thursday 9.30am – 12.30pm £2 per child
NEW – January 2024 : Friday lunches – 2 courses for £4.50 – please call to book on 02392 476382
Heart Of The Park, Dunsbury Way, Havant PO9 5BG
FoodCycle Havant hosts a free, hot community meal every Thursday evening.
Join us at 6.30pm at St Joseph’s Church, 134 West St, Havant PO9 1LP, for a 3-course, sit down dinner and somewhere warm to spend a few hours. You can just turn up- no booking required or questions asked. Enter through the Church Hall side door at the very back of the carpark (next to the cemetery wall).
Hayling Island Library – ‘Warm and Welcome’
After School Drop-in at Hayling Island Library every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Term time only.
Lunchtime Drop-In every Friday from midday at Hayling Island Library. Includes a free mug of soup!
Munch Community Food Pantry – Park Community School is open Monday – Friday 11-2.30pm. It costs £5 to use it and on average get £15 worth of food.
Their Munch meals are for anyone, Tuesday and Thursdays 4-5.30pm, that is a 2-course hot meal and drink.
Fortnightly Sunday lunches are 1-2pm, 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month
email munch@pcs.hants.sch.uk or ring 02392489811 for further information.
New Forest
Fareshare’s Mobile Food Larder – The Food Larder is a community larder run by volunteers for the benefit of their local community. It is a membership scheme aimed at helping people make their money go further by reducing food shopping bills (members can make considerable savings each year).
Fordingbridge Community Fridge – The food is for members of our community who will most benefit. You do not need to be in receipt of a voucher to use our fridge but we ask that you only take what you need and make sure you leave food for others.
Ringwood Community Fridge – Run out of the Ringwood Library, visit the link to find out what is available and when.
Game On at Lymington Library – Come along to the library and enjoy board games, puzzles and crosswords. Join with others in friendly conversation. Every Saturday 10am-4pm
A Warm Welcome at Lymington Library – Free access to a variety of things such as newspapers, magazines and books. Free WIFI, public computers as well as Preistlands School Uniform Exchange.
Lymington Debt Centre and Job Club – Ran out of Lymington Baptist Church by the Christians Against Poverty. CAP services are free of charge and open to anyone, whatever your belief or background.
Citizens Advice NF – For advice on the cost of living crisis you can phone, chat online or drop into one of their offices across the area.
Damerham Village Hall – The Coffee Pot – Wednesdays 10.30-12noon
Pennington Community Hub – St Mark’s Community Hall, every Thursday, 2-4pm
Lymington Warm Hub and Hot Meal – Lymington Baptist Church Wednesdays from 1pm, Hot meal 4-6pm.
Totton Community Hub – Wednesday 9.30-11.30 at Youth & Families Matter. Come for a cuppa.
Totton – St Winfred’s Church Brew 92 – Mondays and Tuesdays 9.30am -12noon
New Milton Community Hub – Nedderman Centre, Marryat Road, Wednesdays 9-11am Tea, coffee and biscuits on the house!
New Milton Library – Game On -Enjoy boardgames, puzzles and crosswords, Tuesdays 10am -12 noon.
Sway Hub – Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Blackfield Baptist Church – COOK UP! – free meal for anyone, made from supermarket rejected produce – from 4pm on a Thursday
Fawley Warm Space –Washing Machine and Hot Showers – Gang Warily, Fawley, please book
Connect Cafe – Marchwood – Offering a Place of Warmth every Tuesday 10.30am -4pm offering free soup, cake and refreshments – New offer – Beans Club – every school evening
Totton Chinwaggers – A group at 5th Testwood Scout Hut – Wednesday mornings 10-12 noon, for refreshments, chat and bingo! On the bluestar 12 bus route, or minibus pick up.
Fareham
Fareham Borough Council Support – If you are worried about the rising cost of living, you can find a number of resources on this page that will provide you with advice and information.
Fareham Council’s Warmer Homes Support – The Warmer Homes programme is funded by the Government’s Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery and Home Upgrade Grant schemes. Portsmouth City Council, in partnership with Fareham Borough Council, has secured funding from these schemes to offer grant funding to improve the energy efficiency of eligible homes.
Fareham Citizens Advice – If you are struggling to afford food and essentials, or need help paying energy bills, please contact Citizens Advice in the first instance who will be able to refer you to the relevant organisation. They can be contacted by calling 01329 237121.
Hill Park Baptist Church – A Warm Welcome Hub, running every Monday and Friday until the end of February, 11am – 2pm. Offering hot drinks, soup, warmth and friendship to up to 50 people.
East Hants
CITIZENS ADVICE – EAST HAMPSHIRE –
Citizens Advice East Hampshire – Whitehill & Bordon
Forest Community Centre
Pinehill Road
Bordon
Hampshire
GU35 0BS
Citizens Advice East Hampshire – Petersfield
Petersfield Library
2nd Floor
27 The Square
Petersfield
Hampshire
GU32 3HH
Citizens Advice East Hampshire – Alton
17 Market Square
Alton
Hampshire
GU34 1HD
Warm Spaces
- Coffee Time, Fridays, 10.30am
- Food Bank, Wednesdays 1-3pm
Horndean Community Association, 106 Portsmouth Road, Horndean.PO8 9LJ
The Folly Wine Bar, College Street, Petersfield, GU31 4AD
The Kings Arms Youth Project – Petersfield, an after-school club for local young people 11-18. (No parents!)
The Kings Arms Youth Project – Alton, an after-school club for local young people 11-18. (No parents!),
The Old Drum, 16 Chapel Street, Petersfield, GU32 3DP
The Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre, Bordon, GU35 0LR
The Townhouse, High Street, Petersfield, GU32 3JL
The Whistlestop, Hill Brow Road, Liss, GU33 7DS
Woodlands Community Hall, Headley Down, Bordon
Food Bank, Pantries, Community Larders and Cupboards
Food Banks
Alton Food Bank
Bordon Food Bank
Headley Food Bank
Horndean & Clanfield Food Bank
Liphook Food Bank
Liss Food Bank
Petersfield Food Bank
COMMUNITY PANTRIES
Cafe 1759 Community Pantry, Cafe 1759, Chieftain House, Challenger Place, Bordon, GU35 0FP
Sacred Heart Community Pantry, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, High St, Bordon GU35 0AU
MOBILE LARDERS
Clanfield Mobile Larder, The Clanfield Centre, every Thursday 1pm – 2.30pm
Woodlands Community Hall Mobile Food Larder, in the car park Tuesdays 1.30pm to 2pm
COMMUNITY CUPBOARDS
Alton Community Cupboard
The Free Shop, Chapel Street, Petersfield, GU32 3DT, Tues 5.30pm to 6.30pm, Wed 1.30pm to 3pm, Fri 10am to 11.30am, Sat 10am to 11.30am
Four Marks and Medstead Community Cupboard, Lymington Bottom, Four Marks, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 5AA, Thursdays 3.45pm to 4.15pm
Winchester
Winchester City Council Support – As the cost of living rises, we’ve put together information to help residents easily find help, support and advice.
Churches Of Winchester – A list of churches that are offering support.
Citizens Advice Winchester – They help people overcome their problems, uphold their rights and create a fairer society. Their advice helps people out of and avoid crisis. Their advice changes lives. It helps keep a roof over people’s heads, put food on the table, heat homes, understand rights, manage debts and help vulnerable people access vital support.
Warm Welcome in Kings Worthy – Every Monday and Friday from 14th November St Mary’s Church are running a warm welcome. It will take place from 11.30am – 2.00pm at St Mary’s Chapel, Fraser Road.
Warm Welcome Working – One co-working space in All Saints Church Mancy Room between 12.00-17.00. Toilet, tea and coffee and wifi and power for laptops and phone charging available. Available Tuesdays and Wednesdays.