Residents in Bath and North East Somerset who are struggling financially due to the cost-of-living crisis are being advised where they can go for support and advice over Christmas and New Year.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Welfare Support Scheme remains open for applications from people who can’t afford basics including food and energy costs.

The Welfare Support Team is available during office hours except on bank holidays and weekends. The support available from the Welfare Support Scheme includes access to local foodbanks, retail vouchers for essentials, help with debt and certain household bills and items such as white goods, essential clothing and furniture.

The Household Support Fund which the Council opened on December 1st for one-off grants of up to three hundred pounds from a share of £400,000 allocated by the Government has now closed to new applications as it has reached capacity.

This month the council’s Children Services department distributed more than 180 Christmas hampers containing food and gifts to families in B&NES who are most in need. These contained donations from The Salvation Army, the One Church, The Entertainer and many more organisations and individuals.

Councillor Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Resources, said: “Don’t forget that there is still help available over the Christmas and New Year period for anyone who is struggling with the cost of living or their wellbeing.”