Cost of living support available
Published
Monday 11 November, 2024
Updated
Monday 11 November, 2024
People struggling with the cost of living crisis can get crucial support and advice at an event in Sittingbourne.
Swale Borough Council are hosting a One Swale roadshow on Thursday 21 November in the newly refurbished and reopened Heather House Community Hub.
Charities and organisations will be stationed in Age UK’s community hub, café and fridge, which has recently been given a new lease of life, ready to help those in need.
The council’s roadshows have helped more than 2,500 people with things like food and fuel vouchers, water bill reductions and health check-ups, and offered them advice on issues such as home safety, energy use, health and debt.
Swale residents can also get help accessing the Household Support Fund and Pension Credit, which can open the doors to many other benefits such as housing benefits, free TV licenses and NHS dental treatment.
The organisations who can assist people at this month’s roadshow include; NHS Health Checks Team, Swale Foodbank, Swale CVS, Sittingbourne Primary Care Network, Fuel and Water Advisor, Food Friends, Citizens Advice Swale, One You Kent, Sateda Sharewear, Cocaine Anonymous, Southern Water, Shaw Trust, Alzheimer's and Dementia Support Services, Imago, Policy Centre for African Peoples, Department for Work and Pensions, Mid Kent Mind, CXK, Live Well Kent and Medway, Kent Police.
In addition to health checkups at the roadshow the NHS Winter Vaccination Team will be stationed in the Swale Community and Voluntary Services building next door, in the White Room, providing free flu and covid vaccinations.
Cllr Richard Palmer, chair of Swale Borough Council’s Community and Leisure Committee, said:
“We are very happy to see Heather House opening to the community, the more places people can go to get crucial support the better.
“Our roadshows have become a regular and established place for people to get the help they need, or be sign posted to more specialist support when necessary.
“Being able to bring together these charities and organisations to support our residents has been an amazing initiative, but it is heartbreaking to see how many people truly need this help.
“Please come along to this event to get support, advice, and help with accessing benefits like pension credit, these resources can make real positive change to your life.”
The council is working with the Swale CVS and Faversham Community Networking Group to organise these roadshows.
The event will take place between 9:30 am and 11:30 am on Thursday 21 November in Heather House Community Hub on the Ave of Remembrance, ME10 4NN.
The council is hosting events at different locations around the borough until March 2025, to try to connect people in need with organisations who can offer support.
The next roadshow will be in 2025, so keep an eye out for when the council announce the next dates.
