Community living rooms reopen

9:00am - 17 November 2023
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Welcoming spaces are once again open across North Somerset as free places to come together for friendly company, activities and somewhere to keep warm this winter.

More than 40 community living rooms have opened in a variety of spaces, including libraries, community centres and faith groups.

They’re great places to come together and connect with other people from your community.

Some offer refreshments, arts and crafts, games and digital skills sessions as well as information, support and advice.

Find details of your nearest one on our website.

We’ve given funding to each community living room, with contributions also coming from Bristol WaterWessex Water and Alliance Homes Group.

Last year we set up a cost of living working group with key organisations across North Somerset, and community living rooms are just one of the many measures in place to help you during on-going cost of living pressures.

Food support is also available to families across North Somerset.

Doctors, health visitors, social workers, family support workers and Citizens Advice North Somerset can all give out foodbank vouchers.

Once you’ve got a voucher, you can then exchange this at your local foodbank for a food parcel.

There are also other food support options, including community fridges and food shops where people share their surplus food. Find out more on our website.

The Better Health North Somerset website also has information on these, as well as tips to save money on your food shop and information about free school meals.

Where else to go for help

For a round-up of advice and guidance visit our website or search #NorthSomersetTogether on social media.

If you’re struggling, Citizens Advice Bureau North Somerset can help. It has an advice shop in the Sovereign, Weston-super-Mare, and runs outreach sessions across North Somerset.

We’ve worked with the Independent Food Aid Network and the Trussell Trust to produce a leaflet to help if you’re worried about money. Copies are also available at your local library.

Age UK Somerset provides information and advice to older people, their families and carers.

Christians Against Poverty gives debt advice and on-going support if you have a debt problem or are in financial difficulty.

If you need help to start a new claim for Universal Credit, contact the Help to Claim team on 0800 144 8444.

If ‘breathing space’ to sort out your debts would help, visit www.nationaldebtline.org

Short-term financial help in an emergency might be available through our Welfare Provision Scheme.

In the last year, we’ve more than doubled our welfare support budgets and supported significantly more vulnerable residents with financial support, food vouchers, energy and goods.