Poverty/Finance/Grants
Accommodation Information for Rough Sleepers
If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough on the streets, there are some local organisations that can give advice.
ELIM Connect (based at Wells) 01749 677097 has an outreach team. They have a 6 bed provision for the whole of Mendip which provides up to 7 nights’ accommodation, as part of a stepping stone arrangement into other accommodation.
They also have a drop-in surgery for people who are sleeping rough, see times below:
Monday 9am to 11am At Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells Breakfast drop in
Tuesday 11am to 1pm At at Fair Frome Foodbank, The Town hall, Christchurch Street West, Frome Drop in
Wednesday 12 noon to 2pm At Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells Community lunch drop in
Thursday 1pm to 3pm At The Red Brick Building, Morland Road, Glastonbury Drop in
Friday 3pm to 5pm At Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells Soup kitchen drop in
Mendip District Council Access Points
Homeless Drop In Support – Shape Shepton, Shepton Mallet, 8.30-4.30pm
Or as a first port of call, you can go to one of the Access Points below:
Glastonbury: The Library, 1 Orchard Court, Archers Way, Glastonbury BA6 9JB. Open: 10am – 4.30pm Monday Tuesday & Thursday, 10am – 1pm Friday. Closed each day beween 1-2pm.
Street: Crispin Community Centre, Leigh Road, Street BA16 0HA. Open: 10am – 4.30pm Monday, Wednesday & Thursday. Closed each day beween 1-2pm.
Wells: Wells Town Hall, Market Place, Wells BA5 2RB. Open: 10am – 4.30pm Tuesday, 10am – 4:30pm Wednesday & Friday. Closed each day beween 1-2pm.
Frome: The Library, Justice Lane, Frome BA11 1BE. Open: 9:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Closed each day beween 1-2pm.
Shepton Mallet: The Council Offices and Shape Mendip: Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm.
Routes drop-in centre – Palmer Street. Support for young people.
Advice drop-in session times: weekdays 10am-5pm Young people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness can access support by calling 01749 679553 or visiting the Routes hub.
Below Zero Degrees
An emergency shelter is opened in Mendip when the temperature reaches or is expected to fall below 0 degrees for three consecutive nights. Please contact the places above for details.
Food Banks and CAB – please see people above or find details on the Health Connections Mendip website www.healthconnectionsmendip.org
Warm Homes
No-one likes living in a cold, damp home but when heating bills are so high, it’s hard to know what you can do.
Try our Winter Home Health Check: we’ve compiled ten things you can check at home to put yourself in the best position to stay warm and well this winter. Click here http://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Winter-Home-Health-Check.pdf
If you’d like a printed copy, pop into the Town Hall or contact Anna Francis
Insulate your home: grant funding for insulation is now available through insulation firm Evolve. Most households could get at least a 50% discount and some will qualify for free insulation.
- Insulating your loft will save you around £130 each year
- Homes built after 1945 will have cavity walls. Filling these with insulation could save you £145 per year.
Figures quoted are for a semi-detached house. Source: Energy Saving Trust
Get an Interest Free Loan to help with fuel cost
Borrow up to £500 to help spread the cost of buying expensive fuels such as oil, LPG, coal and wood. More info here
Talk to the experts: Call the free helpline on 0800 082 2234 to talk to a specialist energy advisor at the Centre for Sustainable Energy. They can give you impartial advice, grant information and practical ideas specific to you and your home.
Positive People – support for those not in work
Positive People offers a lifeline to people who are not in work, no matter what the reason. It can help build confidence, skills and give people a sense of hope for their future.
The programme offers 1:1 support to help people move forward with life, and can help people get involved with new and exciting activities to help build confidence and meet new people. It also provides free specialised support towards overcoming barriers to work such as anxiety or isolation issues, access to benefits, housing, financial or other health issues.
The programme is open to anyone over 18 who is out of work. You can access this service without a referral.
YWAF-Youth With A Future
Youth With A Future (YWAF) work alongside other organisations to support young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and those in supported housing projects in the Mendip area of Somerset and also supports local positive youth initiatives and activities.
Kidney Care UK – grants
If you’re a kidney patient struggling to make ends meet we can help you. We provide personal grants to help pay for – Domestic costs, Household items, Travel expenses, Higher education / training / qualifications
Who is eligible
Our personal grants are available to -Dialysis patients and families on low income, Transplant patients and those receiving conservative care, if health and quality of life is being seriously affected by your renal condition.
What we can fund
Domestic costs: we can help with some domestic bills such as car insurance and tax, heating costs and rent. We may also help with the purchase of domestic goods like washing machines, beds and carpets.
Travel costs: we may be able to help with travel costs to your hospital if you have to travel a long way and have no support from your unit. We don’t help with travel costs for ongoing dialysis.
Further education and training: we may be able to cover the cost of university or college fees, IT equipment for education and give support for courses enabling return to work.
Applying for a grant leaflet
Before applying for a grant it’s a good idea to download and have a read through our Applying for a grant leaflet or if you’d prefer a hard copy, please contact us. If you’re a social worker or member of a kidney care team applying on behalf of a patient please read our Applying for financial aid guide
How to apply
You’ll need to contact your kidney unit social worker or a member of the kidney care team, as all applications for financial aid should come to us on a grant form completed with their input. However, if there’s no member of staff able to help, our advocacy officers can be contacted by contacting Kidney Care UK.
Free lunch at Street Harvest Church, Street
Come and join us for lunch. Bring your own, or share ours – there’s always enough to go round!
Depending who’s around, you might find there’s live music, an impromptu pool tournament, students catching up on work, or folks catching a power-nap on the sofas. There’s always something going on and someone to spark up a conversation with.
Weekdays from 12.00 – 2.00pm. The Upper Room, Crispin Hall, 83 High Street, Street, BA16 OEZ
SSAFA
SSAFA provides lifelong support to anyone who is currently serving or has ever served in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army or the Royal Air Force.
Our trained volunteers can provide practical, emotional and financial support if and when you need it. Our network of local branches means that help and advice is close at hand. When you contact us for support we will put you in touch with one of our experienced advisers in the Mendip area. It is often the little things which make the most difference but we are also experienced at dealing with complex problems.
Mendip Credit Union
Credit unions enable people in a community to come together to save ethically and to borrow money at competitive rates. 100% of members’ savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Like all other credit unions, MCCU is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Our Service points:
Crispin Centre, Leigh Road, Street, Somerset, BA16 0HP
Every Friday 10:00-12:00 noon
Frome, Glastonbury & Wells libraries
Every Saturday 10:00-12:00 noon
The Salvation Army Hall, 21 Commercial Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5BU
Every Tuesday 10:00-12:00 noon
The Key Centre, Feltham Lane, Frome, Somerset, BA11 5AJ
Every Thursday 9:00-11:30 am
Fair Frome
Delivers services to support people living in poverty. Projects include: A Frome Food bank for emergency food parcels. A Kitchen Utensil Project for a kitchen pack, items include plates, cutlery, saucepans and utensils. A Washing Project with packs that include pegs, a washing basket, washing powder and launderette tokens. Dining events for people to come together, to socialise, learn new cooking skills and enjoy a free meal. 5 Palmer Street, Frome, BA11 1DS. Office open Mon, Tues and Thursdays 10-12pm. To access any of our projects you can self refer to Fair Frome or be referred through other organisations such as the CAB, YMCA, Children’s Centre or a Health Visitor.
Supporting Disabled In Need
We may be able to help people in need, living in the South West, with funding for respite holidays, days away, taxis etc. Registered charity 1069330
Glastonbury Foodbank
The Glastonbury food bank operates via a telephone referrals and delivery system.
The food bank prepares parcels and delivers them to individuals in Glastonbury and the surrounding areas. The BA6 postcode is a good guide to the areas covered by the food bank.
Requests for food are made by phone through local agencies such as Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
If you are a local agency and would like to make a referral you need to provide the following information.
– Name, address and contact number.
– Reason for the referral.
– The number of people the box is for.
– Any special dietary requirements.
– The age of any children; and
– How long the crisis is likely to last (i.e. when they will next have money).
Glastonbury, Shekinashram, free evening meal
We serve free food on Glastonbury High Street , 5ish, once a week and often have other events where we serve free blessed food to the community. Food is served on Wednesdays.
St Benedict Church, Friday Soup Lunch
Benedict Street, Glastonbury. Friday soup lunch 10:30am -2.30pm. Free soup and dessert every friday.
SLAP, Elim Connect Centre, Wells
(Street Level Access Programme) is a charitable project supporting change in people challenged by complex and multiple needs – such as homelessness, addiction, mental health or other life-controlling issues. We offer food 3 times a week – breakfast, community lunch and a soup session. We provide emergency food parcels in partnership with Storehouse Food and send food to our direct access housing project. (no pasta or beans please). Emma Rossi, Service Manager.
Street Lunch Drop In
Harvest Church, Somerton Rd, Street offers a free lunch drop-in every weekday 12-2 in their Upper Room.
Bridge Café, Frome
Community Café where people with mental health problems, homelessness or other issues may be able to find support, warmth and affordable food/drinks.
Advice service: Tony Perry offers a Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) outreach type drop in service on Thursday and Friday 11.00am – 1.30pm.
Community Café: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11.00am – 4.00pm. Fortnightly free Sunday lunch 1.00pm – 2.30pm. Hardship Fund Food Bank, access to food boxes voucher from registered referrer needed e.g. CAB. Mondays 10.00am – 1.00noon
Bridge Cafe, 43 Selwood Rd, Frome BA11 3BS
Elim Connect
Offers a wide range of support services to rough sleepers, the homeless, socially isolated and those struggling with addictions.
Also offer skills training and one to one counselling as well as a secure mail address, and access to showers and minimal cost Laundry. Main Office: Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells BA5 2BE.
Rough Sleeper Information:
If you are rough sleeping in this area or you are worried that you will be, you can drop into Elim Connect Centre to access their Community Outreach Service where somebody will be there to help you
When and where you are able to get help if you are sleeping rough.
Monday 9am to 11am At Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells Breakfast drop in
Tuesday 11am to 1pm At at Fair Frome Foodbank, The Town hall, Christchurch Street West, Frome Drop in
Wednesday 12 noon to 2pm At Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells Community lunch drop in
Thursday 1pm to 3pm At The Red Brick Building, Morland Road, Glastonbury Drop in
Friday 3pm to 5pm At Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells Soup kitchen drop in
Computer Use Support
Free support to use computers and to do job searches at Cheese and Grain, Frome. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays 10-12noon.
Numbers and Budgetting Support
These free sessions are held at at St John’s Residents’ Centre, St Johns Road, Frome, Wednesday 4-6pm.
Citizens Advice Bureau – CAB
Mendip CAB provides free, independent and confidential advice on: Debt, Housing, Employment, Welfare Benefits, Family and Personal Matters, Consumer Contracts, Legal Procedures and Education.
For advice on grants for home heating improvements and reviewing and changing your energy tariffs for a better deal please contact masdap@mendipcab.org.uk
Frome 5 King St, Frome, BA11 1BH. Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10 – 2pm
Street Crispin Community Centre, Leigh Rd, Street, BA16 0EZ. Monday & Friday 10 – 2pm
Glastonbury Telephone Service 03 444 889 623
Shepton Mallet Highfield House, Shape Mendip Campus, Cannards Grave Rd, BA4 5BT. Tuesday & Thursday 10 – 2pm. Self Assist Monday – Friday 9.30 – 3.30
Wells Town Hall, Wells, BA5 2RB. Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10 – 1pm
Glastonbury Van Service Temporarily based at St Dunstans Car Park (by The Abbey)
Monday 11 – 2pm. Glastonbury Health Centre (top of town) The Last Friday of the month 10 – 12 pm
Shepton Mallet Foodbank
Parcels are distributed by the Salvation Army, however referrals have to be made via Citizens Advice. The Salvation Army, Old Magistrates Court, 21 Commercial Rd, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BU.
Wells Food Bank-Vineyard Church
Is open for the collection of food parcels Wednesday/Saturday mornings 10.30-12.30
Only accepts referrals from agencies working with vulnerable people. Vineyard Church, Burcott Road, Wells.
‘Just Be’ social group
Drop in for free coffee and cake, a chat, friendship. A warm welcome every Monday 10.30-12:00 during term-time. Street Baptist Church, Glaston Road, Street, Somerset, BA16 OAN
The Home Energy Team
Provides free, impartial, local energy saving advice. This includes telephone advice on keeping warm and well in winter, cutting your energy bills, limited home visits and information on funding for energy saving improvements. The Home Energy Team provides in-depth support to households across Somerset who may be struggling with keeping warm and well at home. For further information, call free on , email or visit.