Seasonal support

The autumn and winter months are a challenging time for household budgets.

Find below what seasonal help we offer, plus money-saving advice and tips.

Stay warm and well advice roadshows

We are partnering with Age UK South Gloucestershire and Severn Wye for a series of advice roadshows where you can get information on:

• eligibility for benefits such as pension credit and the winter fuel allowance
• financial support
• energy saving tips and advice
• eligibility for Severn Wye’s sustainable improvements scheme
• getting enough food to eat
• cooking smarter and making food go further
• low-cost or free activities

The first events take place at our One Stop Shops from 9am to midday on the following dates:

• Tuesday 5 November at Kingswood One Stop Shop
• Thursday 7 November at Patchway One Stop Shop
• Friday 8 November at Yate One Stop Shop

More events will be announced over the coming weeks.

Warm packs

For extra help to keep warm during cold weather warm packs will be available later this year.

Included in the packs are items such as hats, socks and gloves as well as a blanket and thermal flask.

The packs are for adults and families who may not be able to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature during the winter months due to high energy costs.

Community welcome spaces

We are also supporting a network of warm community welcome spaces. These are often located in a community centre, village hall or your local library.

They offer a friendly welcome and are free to use. Some serve hot drinks and host activities. Find your nearest community welcome space.

Ideas for free or low-cost activities

Carve some pumpkins
If you’ve never carved a pumpkin before, YouTube has lots of handy tutorials. Remember to eat your pumpkin afterwards – for ideas visit the Hubbub website.

Autumn arts and crafts
Pine cones and crispy leaves make ideal craft materials. You could create a leaf print masterpiece using paint, cover pine cones with different coloured glitter or make some autumn bunting. More ideas from CBeebies (bbc.co.uk)

Stargazing
Darker evenings provide a great opportunity to stargaze. Choose a clear night and sit out with some blankets to watch the night sky. You can download a free stargazing app to learn more about what you are looking at.

Winter picnics
Pack up a flask of hot soup, wrap up warm and enjoy a nice walk before finding a spot to enjoy your lunch. You can explore some of South Gloucestershire’s nature reserves and woodlands.

Library activities
Libraries are great places to visit all year round. Curl up with a couple of books, take part in a free activity or attend a story time session. Follow the libraries’ page on Facebook for the latest events.

Visit a museum
Museums always provide a good day out and many are free. Discover the museums and heritage sites in South Gloucestershire.

Family game night
Grab some snacks, get cosy and enjoy some of your favourite board games.

Winter scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt is a great way to get outdoors as a family and enjoy nature together. Create a checklist of things to spot and tick them off as you go. Check out these local heritage walks and trails.