Financial help to buy food

Find out about how to get an emergency food payment from the Household Support fund.

Household support fund Cost of Living Support

Support from community organisations 

The South Gloucestershire directory lists local groups and organisations that can help you to access free or low-cost food. These include food banks, community fridges, community cafes and food clubs food support directory. 

Foodbanks work using a voucher referral system.  

Please contact Citizens Advice or visit one of our One Stop Shops to be referred. Our customer care officers will speak to you in confidence. If you would like to talk to us call our freephone helpline 0800 953 7778.  

Opening times: 

• 9am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday

Support with feeding your children 

Free school meals  

If you’re receiving a qualifying benefit, applying for free school meals for each of your children when they start school means your child will receive a hot, healthy, freshly prepared meal at lunchtime. Plus, you’ll be helping their school, as it will receive extra funding to improve educational outcomes.

Free School meals

School holiday activities and food programme 

We offer holiday activities and food clubs (also referred to as HAF) for children aged 5 to 16 years who live in South Gloucestershire. 

This programme aims to provide healthy food and enriching activities during the school holidays to children who are aged between 5 to 16 years old and receive benefits-related free school meals. 

School Holiday activity and food programme

Eating well for less

Tips for shopping on a budget

• look out for wonky fruit and veg to save money
• seasonal vegetables are usually cheaper
• freeze foods if you can to keep them for longer like bread
• shopping when you’re hungry, can make you will buy more than you need
• using the scan as you shop can help you keep an eye on your spending
• buy the basics first and then if you have extra money that week you can buy extras and treats

Reducing food waste can help reduce your food costs How to reduce and recycle food waste | BETA – South Gloucestershire Council (southglos.gov.uk)

It can be hard to know what to cook. Here are some recipe ideas and tips to help you get started:

• • Budget recipes and advice – BBC Food  
  • Healthier snack ideas
  • Recipes – Healthier Families – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Useful links

• Eat Well – Food affects your wellbeing. Having a balanced and varied diet helps you get everything your body needs to feel good and function well.
• Reduce Food Waste  –Save up to £60 a month by buying only what you need, storing food so it lasts longer, using up leftovers and reducing what you throw away.
• Support Local –Buying local produce doesn’t have to cost more especially if you shop smarter and use everything you purchase. Supporting independent, local traders like greengrocers and butchers helps your High Street thrive, puts money back into your community and reduces food mileage.
• The South Gloucestershire Food Partnership is a local partnership bringing together organisations involved in food in the local area to help strengthen the local food system, this includes farmers and growers, food processors, community food organisations and food banks, caterers, allotment holders, orchard owners, town and parish councils and others.