Page contents
- Local support to stay warm
- Energy Advice Tool
- If you're struggling to put food on the table
- Period Dignity in Surrey
- Safe and Well Visits
- Priority Services Register
- Support for Veterans
- Be scam aware
- Domestic abuse support
- Can you help others?
Local support to stay warm
We work with partners to provide information and advice to our residents on how to access Government grants for heating and insulation and other types of energy efficiency measures.
- Visit Action Surrey or call 0800 783 2505 if you think you may be eligible for a Government grant. If you're not sure, book a visit from the Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) who will help identify available Government grants.
- Age UK Surrey provide information to help people stay safe, warm and well in the winter, including money saving tips and advice on benefits and grants, advocacy and counselling.
Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT)
You can book a free home energy survey through the Home Energy Advice Team , about 90% of Surrey residents are eligible.
Warm Welcome venues
From 1 November 2024, over 80 Warm Welcome spaces will once again be available at various locations across Surrey, including the majority of Surrey's libraries, as well as community centres, church halls, and other public buildings. They are places where people can drop-in, get warm, have a hot drink and be in the company of other people. Very simply a place to get warm. There will also be people on hand to give free energy advice at selected locations.
More information below.
Find a Warm Welcome near you.
Energy Advice Tool
The online Energy Advice tool can help any Surrey resident with their energy use. Answer a short series of questions and we'll provide you with information tailored to your personal circumstances. Based on the answers you give, you will receive information on grants, support and advice and non-financial help on a range of topics including:
- Find free or part-funded schemes to make your home more energy efficient
- Signpost to debt relief grants
- Where to find additional services such as clothes and food banks
- Fuel vouchers
The tool will be updated regularly with new schemes and offerings, so check back regularly for updates.
Use the Surrey Energy Advice Tool
If you're struggling to put food on the table
Food banks and Community Fridges are there for people struggling financially to put food on the table. Visit our Connect to Support Surrey website and search 'Food banks'. Connect to Support Surrey is our online directory of local support and services.
The Trussell Trust: There are over 1,200 food bank centres across the UK who provide a minimum of three days' emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis. Please visit the Trussell Trust get help page.
Period Dignity in Surrey
We are proud to have launched a ground-breaking initiative with charity Binti International, to provide free period products in selected locations across Surrey and be the first county council in the UK to start eradicating period stigma.
Safe and Well Visits
We're committed to making sure everyone in our community has the right protection and prevention advice to help them maintain their safety, independence and quality of life. That's why Surrey Fire and Rescue Service offer free Safe and Well visits a service where they can visit you, a loved one, or someone you care for at home to provide personalised advice about fire safety. It's totally free, available 24/7, and we will even fit free smoke alarms during the visit if you need them. Book a Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Safe and Well visit today.
Priority Services Register
Did you know if you are of pensionable age, have a long-term medical condition or disability, or have children under the age of five, you can sign up for the Priority Services Register. This means that in the event of a water shortage you can receive free support and bottled water. You can also sign up with your electricity or gas supplier in case of a supply issue, so you are treated as a priority customer. More information can be found on the Priority Services Register website.
Support for veterans
There are a number of ways for the Armed Forces community to access help and support. Anyone who has served in the British Armed Forces including those who undertook National Service are eligible. To find out more, download the Forces Connect app or visit our Armed Forces web pages.
The Royal British Legion Everyday Needs Grants
The Royal British Legion (RBL) is offering a grant to support veterans who are struggling during the cost of living crisis. RBL is at the heart of a national network that supports the Armed Forces community and is also the largest welfare provider in the Armed Forces charity sector. They help young and older veterans transition into civilian life, helping with employment, financial issues, respite, and recovery, through to lifelong care and independent living.
About the grants programme
The grant is designed to assist veterans who need help with essentials such as kitchen appliances, clothes, and energy costs. Grants of up to £2,400 is available for veterans, which will be spread over 12 months. Recipients of the grant include serving and ex-serving personnel, and the wider Armed Forces community and families, dependants and carers of veterans. Find out more on the following web pages Cost of Living Grants - Everyday Needs (britishlegion.org.uk) or call 0808 802 8080.
Be scam aware
Cost of living scams can include fake energy rebate texts, offers of loans, too good to be true prices and false home improvement claims to cut your bills. Be wary of unexpected phone calls, texts, pop -up adverts online, emails and knocks on the door. For more advice, to report fraud or scams, get a free "no cold calling or scams" sticker pack. Or to enquire about a free call blocker device, visit our trading standards webpages or call 0300 123 2329.
Domestic abuse
If you're experiencing domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour, there is support available for you.
Visit Surrey Against Domestic Abuse (Healthy Surrey) or call the Surrey domestic abuse helpline on 01483 776822 9am to 9pm, 7 days a week, provided by yourSanctuary. In an emergency always call 999.
Can you help others?
Surrey County Council are pleased to be supporting Community Foundation Surrey's Winter Poverty Campaign. With many people in Surrey facing financial struggles this Winter with rising energy costs, this campaign seeks to direct funding to the heart of where it will help most. Surrey County Council have pledged to match fund any donations raised by Community Foundation Surrey (CFS) up to £130,000. That means for every £10 you donate it will be doubled to £20.
The donations from this Winter Poverty Campaign will be put towards awarding grants to local organisations that are actively helping those in poverty in our county through food banks, community fridges, warm hubs, baby banks, debt advice, energy advice and other urgent help.
If you are able to make a donation visit the Community Foundation Surrey Winter Poverty Fundraising Campaign web pages. Community Foundation for Surrey: Winter Poverty Campaign
