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 days/times below:

M: Breakfast drop 9am to 11am at Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells

T: 11am to 1pm at Frome Foodbank, Frome Town Hall, Christchurch Street West, Frome

W: Community lunch 12 noon to 2pm At Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells

T: 1pm to 3pm At The Red Brick Building, Morland Road, Glastonbury

F: Soup kitchen 3pm to 5pm At Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells

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 Tuesday to  Thursday, 10am – 1pm Friday. Closed Monday and Friday and each day between 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 – 4pm Monday to Friday. Closed each day beween 1-2pm.

SHEPTON MALLET: Shepton Mallet: The Council Offices and Shape Mendip: Mon-Fri 8:30am – 5pm.

Homelessness support and advice for young people from YMCA Mendip. 

Young people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness can access support by calling 01749 679553 or visiting the YMCA website.

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 http://healthconnectionsmendip.org

Is a low income stopping you from accessing a bicycle? Get a bike voucher worth £100 from Life Cycle UK. Low-income Somerset residents can get £100 off a quality refurbished bike from our local partners, On Your Bike. A great way to stay healthy and save money on transport. For more information please visit Life Cycle’s website below.

Free help to anyone in debt. Frome centre run in partnership with Holy Trinity Church. Help is available to people living in BA11 Frome and BA3 Coleford postcode area.

Mendip Citizens Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on: Debt, Housing, Employment, Welfare Benefits, Family and Personal Matters, Consumer Contracts, Legal Procedures and Education.

The Mendip offices remain closed at this time. Please get in touch using the new freephone number or go to the website. NEW freephone number: 0808 27 87 842

Community fridge and larder tackles food waste and food poverty. Situated in the Cheese and Grain car park, Market Yard, Frome. Open daily 9am-7pm. Help yourself to food- no charge.

Community fridge and larder tackles food waste and food poverty. Situated between Screwfix and Aldi within The Haskins Retail Centre, Townsend, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5AX.

Open daily 9.30am-5.30pm. Help yourself to food, there is no charge.

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 12 – 2pm At Elim Connect Centre, Portway, Wells Soup kitchen drop in

Community Outreach is supporting change in people challenged by complex and multiple needs – such as homelessness, addiction, mental health or other life-controlling issues. Our skilled and dedicated team provide short and long-term, person-centred support to create real life difference.

Projects include the Frome Food bank for emergency food parcels, Furniture bank and Food at Five. To access any of our projects you can self refer to Fair Frome or be referred through other organisations such as the CAB, YMCA, Health Connections Mendip, Children’s Centre or a Health Visitor. Fair Frome, Frome Town Hall, Christchurch Street West, Frome BA11 1EB.

Money worries and mental health often come hand in hand. Regardless of which came first, if you’re struggling to cope with debt these resources may help. We are here to help with your Financial Well-being and your financial future.

If you are already a member or business partner of Westcountry Savings & Loans and you are based in North Somerset, you can contact our dedicated Financial Wellbeing Officers for more information.

Food at Five ‘Takeaway’ hot meals are continuing 3 days per week every week at 5pm.  Hot and nutritious meals with Vegetarian option always available.

Mondays outside The Key Centre, Feltham Lane. Wednesdays at the Cricket Club, Rodden Road.  Thursdays at Trinity Church Hall car park. Free to anyone on benefits or low income. Just turn up.

Referral only food bank, provided by The Salvation Army, Goswell Road, Street, BA16 0JG.  Collection times from Goswell Road, Street, BA16 0JG are Mondays 10am-1pm, Tuesdays 1pm-4pm, and Fridays 10am-1pm.

Coleford Community food larder is open on Wednesday 11-3, Thursday 11.30-2.30 and Saturday 10.30-11.30 for collections. You can find us outside The Hub, Church St, Coleford, Radstock, BA3 5NQ.  Delivery to Holcombe is available to those without transport on Thursday afternoon.  Delivery is available in Coleford on Friday. You can just turn up if you are in need or if you’re unable to get there please call Health Connections Mendip on 01373 468368 for a referral. 

Parcels are distributed by the Salvation Army, however referrals have to be made via Health Connectors, Village Agents and Citizens Advice.

If you are in need of a food parcel then please call Health Connections Mendip, on 01373 468368 ( option 2) to complete a referral.

The food bank is manned Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 12 noon:

The Salvation Army, Old Magistrates Court, 21 Commercial Rd, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BU.

Shekinashram serve a free evening meal on Glastonbury High Street around 5pm on Wednesdays.  There are often other events where food is provided to the community.

MONDAY to FRIDAY: Market Cross, Glastonbury, 4pm, hot food, rice and dahl.

TUESDAYS: United Reform Church, Glastonbury, morning bacon butties and hot drinks.

THURSDAYS: St Benedict’s Church, Benedict Street, Glastonbury 12pm – 1.30pm. Free lunch – takeaway service only.

SATURDAY: United Reform Church, Glastonbury, morning bacon butties and hot drinks.

SATURDAY: Music Shop, High St, Glastonbury, 4.30pm, hot pasta meals.

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).

We aim to ensure that people in Frome who are at risk of cold homes get the support they need. For households on low incomes living in houses with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or under this could include financial support of up to £10,000 towards improving the energy efficiency of your home.

The free Energy Essentials course is designed to enable you to provide energy advice to people in Frome. If you work in a role where you are in contact with the public, give advice or support on other issues, or would like to become a Healthy Homes volunteer, this training is for you.

Independent Age can provide you and your family with clear, free and impartial advice on the issues that matter: care and support, money and benefits, health and mobility.

You can call their Helpline, listed below,  Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 6.30pm (closed on bank holidays). You can also email your query to the address below.

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.

You can visit the following service points without an appointment:

Wells Library, Union Street, Wells, BA5 2PU – Saturday 10:00-10:30 am

Frome Library, Justice Lane, Frome, BA11 1BE – Saturday 10:00-10:30 am

Glastonbury Library, Archers Way, Glastonbury BA6 9JB – Saturday 11:00-11:30

Positive People offers a lifeline to people who are not in work to help build confidence, skills and give a sense of hope for the future. The projects give people the opportunity to get involved in local communities, meet new people and have fun through a range of activities. The programme is open to anyone over 18 who is out of work. You can access this service without a referral.

Positive People are currently currently holding Digital Cafés and in person sessions.

For private sector homes – safer home grants and loans are available to provide help with the cost of work to make homes safer, healthier and warmer. Available for vulnerable households on lower income who otherwise may not be able to afford to complete essential improvements to their home.

More information can be found on this FACTSHEET

(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.

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.

The Furniture Storehouse can provide good quality furniture to those in need. They can usually provide items such as beds, tables, chairs, sofas and white goods. The Storehouse receives referrals from local agencies for people with limited financial resources who need basic items of furniture.

Wells Foodbank and Furniture Storehouse, Unit 2, Keward Mill Trading Estate, Jocelyn Drive, Wells  BA5 1DA

Worried about energy bills? 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 for people living in Mendip. The Home Energy Team provides in-depth support to households across Somerset who may be struggling with keeping warm and well at home.

Call free: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

Free and impartial money advice, set up by government. Advice and guides to help improve your finances, tools and calculators to help keep track and plan ahead and support over the phone and online.

Is open for the collection of food parcels Wednesday/Saturday mornings 10.30-12.30
Only accepts referrals from agencies working with vulnerable people.

Unit 2 Keward Mill Trading estate BA5 1DA

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.