Wellbeing Newsletter -  Support from NCC, NCF and LGA
 
Apologies for the long nature of this newsletter, but there is much here that will be of interest to everyone.
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Norfolk County Council (NCC) and Norfolk Community Foundation (NCF) can offer a wide range of support to people who are struggling.  Over coming months’ it will be vital to ensure that everyone is receiving all the help they can possibly get from this and other sources.  Below we share the latest information about what is available and how to access it.

Councils with the General Power of Competence (GpoC) are of course able to do anything that an individual can do and so can act as a conduit or enabler for much of the funding, but please don’t be put off if you don’t currently have the GPoC, ask yourself if there are other ways to unlock funding that is available, perhaps through working with your local church, village centre or other possible partners.
 
Norfolk County Council       Household Support Fund autumn/winter 2022

Norfolk County Council has just announced its cost-of-living support offer, helping households in the County manage their costs. As stakeholders we wish to raise your awareness of the programme of support available, to enable you to signpost your customers to help where needed.
The Council has been allocated £6.69 million to be spent by the end of March 2023 by the government’s Household Support Fund and will add an additional £1.2m of council funds to create a total support package for Norfolk Households of just over £7.9m. The new scheme aims to provide extra support to those facing hardship this winter, as the cost-of-living crisis continues, especially around food and energy costs.
The County Council will continue to work closely with district, borough and city councils, the VCSE sector and schools to help those most in need, with a special focus on providing support for rising energy and utility bills over winter.
There have been some fantastic outcomes through the previous Household Support Fund and the work is supporting many people across Norfolk. However, the pressures continue for some, and may be particularly difficult over the winter period as households use more fuel to keep their homes warm, and the increased costs of this.
Based on previous experience, the funding is expected to provide support to around 70,000 households across Norfolk.

Below is a summary of the support that is on offer.
 
Support for families who receive Free School Meals
The Council will continue to provide cost-of-living vouchers for free school meals eligible children, with those eligible receiving a total of £120 in vouchers per child for the period November 2022 to April 2023.
The vouchers are provided by Edenred, which can be used in all supermarkets for essentials, including clothing.
If you are working with a family who you think may be eligible for free school meals, who are not currently receiving them, please encourage them to speak to their children’s education provider or support them in that conversation where needed.
Children who are home educated and may be entitled to the vouchers can complete the Norfolk Assistance Scheme form and will be supported to access Edenred by NAS.
For more information about free school meals
 

click here

Norfolk Assistance Scheme (NAS)
NAS already provides hardship support to Norfolk residents who are struggling with their living costs. The type of support that NAS provides is tailored to the individual needs of each household. It can include food vouchers, help with buying school uniforms and gas or electricity meter pre-payments, purchasing oil and a range of other support as needed.
NCC have also invested in additional advice capacity that NAS can refer to. This means that as well as one-off financial support, people struggling with their finances will find it easier to access debt and welfare advice and support to find longer term solutions.
Find out more about the support on offer and who can apply at 
 

NAS

 
Norfolk Community Foundation
If you are a VCSE organisation, town or parish council or faith group you can apply to Norfolk Community Foundation for a grant funding to enable £50 cash support or pay contributions to energy/utility bills of £50. You can then use this funding to offer winter aid directly to the people you support.
More detail about who can apply, for how much and when, will soon be available at
 

NCF Household Support

Norfolk Community Foundation will be advising VCSE organisations how they link people up with longer term support offered by district council teams and NAS so that they can be helped past the initial £50 sum where needed.

Local support in the community
City, district, and borough councils are using their in-depth knowledge about their residents and local community to proactively target support to where it is most needed. This support will be delivered through existing local organisations and council services who come across individuals and families in need. City, district, and borough councils will be in touch directly with partner organisations with more detail about their individual schemes.
Norfolk’s network of 47 libraries is offering free hygiene packs with essential toiletry and sanitary products, as well as ‘warm and well’ packs including things like blankets, gloves, and socks. People will be able to go to libraires and pick up these packs in a discreet way when they need them. Libraries will also be offering self-serve hot drinks at all of their libraries this winter during their opening hours.
 
Winter support in general
Anyone can go to www.norfolk.gov.uk/costofliving to find out what support is available and how to access it. Organisations and support workers can also do this on people’s behalf. If people have problems accessing online services, then they can visit their local library or call on 0344 800 8020.
 
What can I do to help?
If you are working with, or aware of, a family who you think may be eligible for free school meals, who are not currently receiving them, please encourage them to speak to their children’s education provider or support them in that conversation where needed.
Please direct people to the website www.norfolk.gov.uk/costofliving so that they can find the right support for their needs.
If someone needs emergency help with food or fuel, then direct them to the Norfolk Assistance Scheme www.norfolk.gov.uk/NAS or tell them to call 0344 800 8020.
 
Who can I contact for further information?

• Hardship Support General Information – Natasha Hayes, Head of Communities, Norfolk County Council natasha.hayes@norfolk.gov.uk

• Norfolk Assistance Scheme and the support on offer - John Baldwin, Head of Finance Exchequer Services john.baldwin@norfolk.gov.uk

• Free School Meal vouchers and support for families – alison.randall@norfolk.gov and philip.beck@norfolk.gov.uk

• Broadland Council’s support offer -  Mike.Pursehouse@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

• Breckland Council’s support offer – Samantha.Armitage@breckland.gov.uk

• Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s support offer – Steve Scott-Greenard earlyhelphub@great-yarmouth.gov.uk 0808 196 2238

• King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council’s support offer - Judith.Berry@West-Norfolk.gov.uk

• Norwich City Council’s support offer – covidhub@norwich.gov.uk

• South Norfolk Council’s support offer - Mike.Pursehouse@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

• North Norfolk District Council’s support offer - Sonia.Shuter@north-norfolk.gov.uk