Financial Assistance
Information for residents who need financial assistance, including free school meals, foodbanks, the Healthy Start Scheme and more.
| Support Available | Contact | Area |
|---|---|---|
Free School Meal Vouchers Free school meals are administered by Devon County Council for all Devon maintained schools. They are also responsible through a traded agreement for free school meals with Devon academies. | 0345 155 1019 | SH WD |
Foodbanks Some foodbanks will provide small grants | Please see our Foodbanks listing | SH WD |
Healthy Start Scheme Help to buy food and milk for children under four or mothers over 10 weeks pregnant | Healthy Start website | SH WD |
Benefits Most benefits claims are dealt with by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), but there are some occasions where people need to claim Housing Benefit from the Council. Please see our Make a New Claim page for more information, or use the links on the right to go to the Gov.UK website. | Gov.UK benefits information | SH WD |
Budgeting Loans The DWP offer budgeting loans to people in receipt of benefits to help cover the costs of unexpected expenses. This could be furniture and household goods, costs linked to moving house, funerals or maternity costs. They are interest free and repayments are taken from your benefits. | Budgeting Loans | SH WD |
SSAFA The Armed Forces charity, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, is a UK charity. It provides lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families or dependents. | 0800 2606767 | SH WD |
Okehampton United Charities Crisis grant up to £250 - low income and for example cooker blowing up. Available to people living in Okehampton and surrounding hamlets (Brightley, Southcott, Meldon and Stockley). | 01837 55179 | WD |
Citizens Advice Help with Benefits, Work, Debt & Money, Consumer, Family, Housing, Law & Courts, Immigration, Health |
Citizens Advice Support 0300 5000 400 | SH WD |
Turn2Us Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially. | Turn2Us website | SH WD |
Navigate Provides free debt and money advice to people who can't access it through mainstream services. Navigate can also assist with mental health issues relating to debt and money, as well as help with fuel poverty issues. | 01823 299050 | WD |
WaterSure WaterSure is a scheme which helps some people with their water bills. To apply, you must be receiving benefits and need to use a lot of water for either medical reasons or because your household has a number of school-age children. | South West Water | SH WD |
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