Households in receipt of council tax benefit can claim one food voucher worth £50 from their district or borough council.
Households in receipt of housing benefit only can claim one food voucher worth £80.
Information about how to access this voucher can be found here:
Support for families and children | Children and Families | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)

Pantries are open to everyone in the community and provide access to food at a lower cost. They offer a range of fresh, frozen and general foods, which change each week. Access to the Community Pantry is by membership and, for a small weekly contribution, members can select food to a significantly higher value.

Many of these pantries have cafes and meeting spaces and offer other forms of support. They offer a friendly and safe space for all users. Pantries organise activities, provide wrap around support services and an opportunity to meet with others.

Details of local pantries can be found here:
Community pantries – Hampshire | Children and Families | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)

The community pantry closest to Swanmore College is the Wickham Pantry. Wickham Community Pantry is at:
Wickham Community Centre
Mill Lane
Wickham
PO17 5AL

Meon Valley Food Bank is church led and community focused, offering help to families who are at crisis point and need support through the provision of food. It is based in Wickham and serves towns and villages in the Meon Valley, including Bishops Waltham, Swanmore, Waltham Chase, Droxford, West Meon, Wickham, Whiteley and Knowle, together with other villages in the surrounding area.

You must be referred to the Meon Valley Food Bank to be able to use it. You can find a list of Referral Agents here. We are a Referral Agent; if you would like to enquire about a possible referral, please email [email protected]

Created to fight food waste, this app allows you to “save surprise bags of good food at better prices from restaurants and shops near you”!

Every day, unsold food goes to waste at your favourite cafes, restaurants, grocery shops and shops – just because it hasn’t sold in time. The Too Good To Go app lets you buy and collect this food – at a great price – so it gets eaten instead of wasted. You won’t know exactly what’s in your order until you pick it up – it’s all part of the surprise. Find out more here.

Download the app to get started: iOS App Store | Android – Google Play

Another app designed to reduce waste. OLIO connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus stuff can be shared, not thrown away. Find out more here.

Download the app to get started: iOS App Store | Android – Google Play

Kitche: save food, save money

The home food waste app that helps you save food, money and the environment! The average UK family ditches £70 worth of good food a month, most of which can be easily avoided by using Kitche, download and start your journey to zero waste. All features are free to use. Kitche can: Track your food; Get more savvy in the kitchen and see your progress and positive impact. Find out more here.

Download the app to get started: iOS App Store | Android – Google Play

Ofcom (Office of Communications) has a list of available tariffs for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. These are generally cheaper, and some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’. Ofcom is encouraging providers to offer these social tariffs, which have a range of benefits in addition to a lower price.

Find out more and look at the list of available tariffs here:

Ofcom | Broadband and phone social tariffs

Households struggling to meet the cost of their utility bills for water, gas or electricity can contact their local Citizens Advice.
Details of local Citizens Advice offices can be found here:   Advice – Citizens Advice Hampshire (citahants.org)

The Environment Centre (tEC) offers direct guidance and support to households on a range of energy-related topics either remotely or face to face. tEC has provided grants to 150 households on means-tested benefits or low income and vulnerable for essential heating and hot water works, or for practical household items to reduce energy or help them to keep warm.

To contact the Environment Centre either ring 088008048601 or email [email protected]

This is available from district and borough councils. This does not include ongoing support for rent or mortgage payments. Details of how to access emergency housing support can be found here:

Support for housing costs – Hampshire | Children and Families | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)

There are a variety of free sanitary products available for all pupils. You are welcome to come and get whatever you need during break times from the following locations:

• Welfare Office
• Pupil Reception
• The Year Team office
• The Pupil Centre
• Mrs Benton, Mrs Grist and Mrs Francis (S1HB, S Block)

Free school meals are available to eligible pupils. To check your eligibility, please click here:
Free school meals for pupils up to 16 years old | Free school meals | Education and learning | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)

If you would like to apply for new or check your eligibility for continued free school meals on the HC3S online system, please click on the link below:
https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/hants

You will need to enter your name, address, national insurance number or asylum support service number. In addition, you will need to provide your child’s name, date of birth and identify the school they are attending.

For more information about Pupil Premium at Swanmore College, please click here.