Household Support Fund - Get Help with Food, Gas, Electric and Water
Published
Thursday 12 September, 2024
Updated
Wednesday 4 June, 2025
Household Support Fund
You may be eligible for help with your food and the cost of utilities through the Household Support Fund.
Funded by UK Government, the scheme is for those most in need of support to help with significantly rising living costs.
Swale Borough Council will be working with local organisations to deliver support with food and fuel provision through a network of established agencies within the Borough.
Who can we help
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a Swale resident
- Be Aged over 16 or as part of a household application
- Be at risk because you do not have access funds to support you
- Have less than £500 in your bank account
What you’ll get
- Food parcel
- Fuel vouchers for pre-paid meters
- Vouchers for billed utility accounts
- Information and guidance
How to apply
Information about how to apply for help with food or fuel.
Apply for help with food
For access to emergency food provision in the form of a food parcel, please contact the food bank in your area:
- Sheerness (Family Food Bank), email hsf@children-families.org or call 01795 889233
- Sittingbourne (Swale Food Bank), email info@swale.foodbank.org.uk or call 07486 370709
- Multicultural (Diversity House), email info@diversityhouse.org.uk or call 01795 420455
Other food support in Faversham
- Faversham (West Faversham Community Association), email support@westfavershamca.org or call 01795 537321
- Faversham Foodbank email info@faversham.foodbank.org.uk or call 07938720604
Apply for help with fuel
For support with a pre-paid gas or electricity meter vouchers (in line with the Fuel Bank Foundation criteria):
For support for those who are on billed utility accounts Household Support Fund (children-families.org). This service can provide you with a one-off virtual prepaid card, which is to be used to pay your utility provider only.
Support for pensionable aged residents
If you’ll reach state pension age by 31st March 2024 and you need help with hot meals, shopping for food or digital support, please contact Age UK Kent Rivers. Telephone 01795 532766 or email reception@ageukkentrivers.org.uk.
One Swale Roadshows
One Swale Roadshows are held monthly moving around the borough to support residents to access services and resources they may need.
For up to date information on the roadshows please visit swale.gov.uk/news/roadshows. The roadshows will run until March 2026 and each event will have partners from multiple organisations available help.
Additional Support Kent County Council
You can also apply to KCC’s fund Household Support Fund in addition to any HSF support received from us.
