There are four food banks in Monmouthshire, one in each of the main towns.  Food banks can provide food parcels to with enough food to see you and your household through a short crisis, as well as helping you to find the right advice and support to help deal with any underlying problems. 

To speak to someone about receiving a food parcel you can call Monmouthshire Council’s contact centre on 01633 644644.

Community Fridges in Monmouthshire

Reducing Food waste and encouraging a circular economy. Community Fridges rescues good quality, surplus food, free of charge from local food retailers, producers, growers, restaurants and households. Uploading the highest food hygiene standards. By sharing quality excess food, not only reduces wasted food and disposal costs, but directly supports local community. 

The Royal British Legion has launched the Cost-of-Living Grants Programme. This programme is designed to assist people who need help in a quick and easy way with everyday essentials such as kitchen appliances, clothes, and energy costs up to £200 a month for 12 months

This programme is open to anyone who is eligible for support and struggling to pay for items and services they need.

The application has been streamlined to enable applications to be dealt with rapidly

Please see link below

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/financial-and-employment-support/finance/grants/cost-of-living-grants

Small local grants:

There are lots of organisations that offer grants to people in particular circumstances who might be struggling – such as veterans, care leavers or people who have worked in particular professions.

Turn2Us has an online search facility to help you find out if you might be able to access any small grants from local or national charities to help tide you over a difficult patch or to help you get back on your feet.

https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/

Discretionary Assistance Fund:

This is a ‘last resort’ fund from Welsh Government intended to support people experiencing serious hardship. To provide more help for those households facing significant additional hardship due to the  Coronavirus crisis, Welsh Government has asked the DAF Service Centre personnel to apply greater  flexibility and discretion with regard to the number and frequency of DAF payments that people can claim during this period.

You can apply online for a Discretionary Assistance Fund payment at

www.gov.wales/discretionary-assistancefund-daf/how-apply  or by calling free on 0800 859 5924.

Financial support for unpaid Carers

Financial support for unpaid Carers

Carers can apply for small grants of up to £500 to address financial  pressures and emergency needs.  Examples of eligible items and activities include, but are not limited to:

• Purchase of household items e.g. washing machine, bed or fridge etc.

• Assistance with the purchase of food

• Purchase of technology e.g. laptop, mobile phones, tablets or data

• Entertainment subscriptions e.g. Audible, Amazon Prime, gaming, Netflix etc.

Carers can apply for a grant via the online application form on the Carers’ Trust website:   https://carerfriendly.co.uk/grants

Support for businesses and the self employed

The economic consequences of the pandemic have been huge, not least for business owners and the self employed.  To help you make sure you are accessing all the financial support that you’re entitled to, there is information on Monmouthshire Council’s web pages here:

https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/business-advice/

and from Business Wales here:

https://businesswales.gov.wales/

Support for school costs: 

Welsh Government provides a grant for households on low incomes to help with the essential cost of attending school, such as buying uniform or kit to take part in particular activities.  Information is available here:

https://gov.wales/pupil-development-grant-access

Many schools have their own stock of uniforms and other essential kit which they can offer to families at low or no cost. It’s always worth speaking to your child’s school to see if there are ways in which they can support your child to learn without the strain of money worries.

Furniture, white goods and essential household items

An unexpected need to replace essential household items can cause real problems if you don’t have enough in savings to cover it.  Rather than turning to expensive forms of credit, Gateway Credit Union can offer small loans at affordable rates which can be paid back over a long period.

Also, some charitable organisations in Monmouthshire can help with low cost household items (or even free in some circumstances).

Abergavenny Homemakers: The Chapel, Old Workhouse, Union Rd W, Abergavenny NP7 7RL Phone: 01873 857618  https://www.hmcrecycling.co.uk/

Monmouthshire Upcycle: Station Yard Industrial Estate, Chepstow NP16 5PF

Phone: 01291 408300  https://www.facebook.com/monmouthshireupcycle/