Many people are unaware they may be entitled to benefits that could offer them the support they need. If you are unsure about what benefits you can claim, Advicelink Cymru can help you check and claim what’s yours. Call the free helpline on 0808 250 5700
Find out more here: https://gov.wales/claim-whats-yours
The Welsh Government with this fund is providing two grants.
(1) Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)
A grant to help pay for essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel if you:
(2) Individual Assistance Payment (IAP)
A grant to help you or someone you care for live independently in their home or a property that you or they are moving into.
Use the grant to pay for:
https://gov.wales/discretionary-assistance-fund-daf
Click here to check entitlements and help, even if you are working or freelance
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual one-off payment to help you pay for heating during the winter. You can usually get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before 26 September 1955.
Check how much Winter Fuel payment you can get and how to claim it on GOV.UK.
Cold Weather Payments are one-off payments to help you pay for extra heating costs when it’s very cold.
You’ll get a payment each time the temperature drops below a specific temperature for a set period of time.
You’ll only be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment if you already get:
If you’re eligible, you’ll get paid automatically. Find out more about Cold Weather Payment on GOV.UK.
Bridgend Citizens Advice provide free, confidential and impartial advice and campaign on the big issues affecting people’s lives.
Their goal is to help everyone find a way forward, whatever problem they face.
They are an independent charity and part of the Citizens Advice network across England and Wales.
Contact our local Citizens Advice here
Getting the right help at the right time can make all the difference. Age Connects Morgannwg offer a wide range of information, advice and services to help older people stay living independently for as long as possible.
Their work is designed to put you first and make life easier.
Their dedicated staff and volunteer team offer independent and confidential information, advice and support on a variety of issues such as care, legal, health, housing, income and benefits, consumer, leisure, learning and work.
Click on the links below for more information about what they can offer.
This applies to both social and private sector tenants. These can provide extra money when your local authority decides that you need extra help to meet your housing costs on top of what benefit support you already receive through the DWP. To get a Discretionary Housing Payment, you will need to either already be receiving the old scheme Housing Benefit or the housing cost contribution element through Universal Credit.
To access a Discretionary Housing Payment please contact BCBC
Warm Wales is Wales’ oldest CIC working to tackle fuel poverty by offering free advice and support to ensure people across Wales and South-West England have warm and safe homes.
They have a team of trained energy advisors and community workers to help provide advice, referrals, and access to grants such as gas connection grants to ensure no one is living in unsafe and cold homes. Their Healthy Homes Healthy People project and HHHP+ project are available to everyone to help support people in reducing their energy bills, apply for schemes and support those affected mentally by fuel poverty.
For more information or advice please contact their community workers.
If you are having difficulty paying your water bill, you should contact your supplier immediately. If you are with Dŵr Cymru / Welsh Water, they have outlined the support they can provide, which includes payment plans and water rate reductions.
Hafren Dyfrdwy can support its customers in a similar way.
You may be able to get help if you are struggling to pay for your energy bill or topping up your pre-payment meter by speaking to your energy supplier. Also, Charis manages the energy grant and scheme offered by energy companies through Ofgem, check if there are any active schemes in your area and their eligibility criteria. E-On Energy Fund, E-On Next Energy Fund, British Gas, OVO Energy, SSE and others.
https://charisgrants.com/individuals/
If you are struggling financially and looking to borrow you should always make sure it is from an ethical lender.
Credit unions will only lend what you can afford to repay, helping to avoid further unmanageable debt. They are particularly good for those who find it difficult to borrow from banks due to having a poor credit history.
StepChange
Step Change, the Debt charity have a page dedicated to information and support around the Cost-of-living Crisis and can provide free debt help.
https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/rising-cost-of-living.aspx
Breathing Space scheme
Breathing Space (sometimes called the ‘Debt Respite Scheme’) is a free government scheme that could give you up to 60 days’ space from creditors to focus on getting debt advice and setting up a debt solution.
If you apply and are eligible, all creditors are informed and must stop any collection or enforcement activity. You’ll still need to keep making your regular payments if you can afford to.
StepChange can help with applications: https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/breathing-space-scheme.aspx
£500 Support payment for Unpaid Carers
The Welsh Government has announced a one-off payment of £500 for unpaid carers in receipt of carers allowance. Please find out more and the links to apply at your local council at the link below.
https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-support/support-payment-for-unpaid-carers/
Cost Of Living Support Fund for Unpaid Carers
The Welsh Government has launched a new fund to support unpaid carers in Wales during the cost-of-living crisis. Carers, who provide care for an adult or disabled child, will be able to apply for grants of up to £300 to pay for food, household items and electronic items.
Support services, such as counselling, financial advice, well-being and peer support will also be available. It comes as part of a £4.5m Welsh Government investment in the Carers Support Fund over the next three financial years, made up of £1.5m each year. We will share on our platforms the details of how to apply for the fund as soon as they are published.
https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-support/support-payment-for-unpaid-carers/
Money Matters Hub
Carers Wales has created a new hub filled with resources to help support you with finances. It includes information on grants and benefits, as well as money and debt management tools and support with energy bills.
https://www.carersuk.org/wales/help-and-advice/money-matters-hub
Care and Repair
Helping older people to live independently in warm, safe, accessible homes. They run a service which offers free Home Energy Assessments for people aged 60 and above in Wales.
https://www.careandrepair.org.uk/en/your-area/
Cancer Patients
If you have cancer there may be help to assist with any relief of poverty. Please visit: https://www.costofcancer.org.uk/
Pupil Development Grant- Access
Learners currently eligible for free school meals can apply for the grant of £125 per learner, and £200 for those learners entering year 7, recognising the increased costs associated with starting secondary school.
The parents of children and teenagers eligible for free school meals in Wales can apply for a grant towards school uniform, school trips, and kit. The grant this year is for £225 per learner, or £300 for those going into year seven, to recognise the increased costs with starting secondary school.
Parents and guardians can contact their local council to check their eligibility and apply.
Both grants have been raised by £100 for this school year, a Welsh Government spokesperson said. All looked after children qualify for the grants, whether they receive free school meals or not.
https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/residents/schools-and-education/grants-for-pupils/
Do you know of a local voluntary group in your area doing brilliant work? Of course you do!
Get applying!
We want Bridgend County groups recognised and celebrated for their amazing work in and across our Borough.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is made to UK volunteer groups and is equivalent in status to receiving a Masters of the British Empire (MBE). This year 244 groups received the award.
Click here for more details as nominations are now open for 2023.
The closing date is 15 September.
The KESS project – Mapping and Evaluating the Voluntary Youth Work Sector for Wales – is a Masters by Research project conducted by the University of South Wales and funded by the European Social Fund in partnership with CWVYS.
The research aims to make the voluntary youth work sector more visible and ensure their contributions are valued by all stakeholders. To do so, KESS would value your contribution to our short online survey.
If you are an organisation that provides voluntary youth work services for young people in Wales, please follow the link below to the survey which simply captures the nature of your organisation and the support provided to young people. Survey completion should take no more than 15 minutes, your time and comments are greatly valued.
To start the survey, please follow the below links:
Survey in English:
https://southwales.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/mapping-and-evaluating-the-voluntary-youth-work-sector-for-7
Please also share the survey link and information among your networks (e.g. by email or social media) – the more responses received, the better we can represent the experiences of the sector as a whole and the young people they support.
You will find further information on the project at the beginning of the survey, however, should you have any questions or feedback on the research, please feel free to contact the researcher by email: Elizabeth.bacon@southwales.ac.uk
The Happiness Fund is available to enable and support projects which improve mental health and wellbeing, inclusion, learning and skills development in local communities.
Ultimately it creates happier people and neighbourhoods. They are specifically looking for grassroots organisations that are set up for and by the local community.
The fund will award £2,500 per quarter – allowing up to four different projects per year to apply. Each project and associated people can only apply once in a funding year.
For information, go to.
One of Wales’ leading environmental charities is urging drivers to keep their conscience and our roadsides clear as part of a new national campaign.
With more vehicles than ever before on our roads and a significant increase in our food and drink on-the-go culture, roadside litter is a growing problem in Wales. It is harmful to our environment and wildlife. It ruins the beautiful views for locals and visitors alike, whilst also being difficult, dangerous and expensive to clean up.
Research shows that 78% of vehicle litterers feel guilty after littering. [i] Keep Wales Tidy’s new campaign encourages drivers to have a guilt free journey with no regrets and to ‘Drive your litter home’.
The nationwide campaign is being run as part of Caru Cymru (a Welsh phrase meaning ‘Love Wales’) – an inclusive movement led by Keep Wales Tidy and councils to inspire people to take action and care for the environment.
As part of the campaign, outdoor advertising will appear across roadside litter hotspots in Wales such as roadside billboards, back of buses and petrol pump adverts. This will also include radio and digital audio advertising to target drivers listening to their favorite channels.
Advertising will step up a gear during busy weekends and bank holidays over the summer months to target as many drivers as possible.
Keep Wales Tidy has also developed resources for haulage companies and other commercial drivers to utilise.
Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Lesley Jones said:
“We’re putting our foot down on roadside litter. Not only is it a blight on our beautiful country, and often the first thing visitors see when arriving into Wales, but it also has a significant impact on our environment and wildlife. We estimate that the cost of collection and disposing of roadside litter in Wales is at least £3.5 million every year.
Our new roadside litter campaign takes ‘do the right thing’ up a gear by highlighting how littering makes people feel. The vast majority of drivers know that littering from their vehicle is unacceptable, and we want everyone to have a guilt free journey with no regrets.
When you’re out and about in your vehicle please leave nothing behind you. Keep your conscience and our roadsides clear by driving your litter home or disposing of it in the nearest bin.”
To find out more and download free materials, visit the Keep Wales Tidy website: www.keepwalestidy.cymru/caru-cymru
Caru Cymru has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
[i] Highways England. (2021). Understanding Vehicle Littering Research Report.
Cwm Taf University Health Board are seeking ‘expressions of interests’ for new members to join the Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG).
The SRG is made up of a range of Health Board, partner and residents to provide independent advice on any aspect of the business of CTMUHB with the aim of presenting cohesive and balanced feedback to inform decision-making. The SRG provides an opportunity to influence CTMUHB’s strategic and operational direction as well as the quality and accessibility of the services it provides. The breadth of knowledge and experience of its members is unique as it is able to offer valuable feedback into local NHS issues.
The SRG is required to operate as a coherent advisory group with all members being full and equal members sharing responsibility for the decisions of the SRG.
Members are required to:
All SRG members are accountable, through the SRG Chair to the Health Board for their performance as Group members, and to their nominating body, if appropriate, for the way in which they represent the views of their body.
The SRG meeting bi-monthly (currently in a virtual format). Appointments to the SRG are made by the Board, based upon nominations received from stakeholder bodies/groupings.
Currently vacancies are as follows:-
| Over 55+ Representative | Rhondda Cynon Taf area. |
| Over 55+ Representative | Bridgend area. |
| Patient Representative | Rhondda Cynon Taf area. |
| Patient Representative | Bridgend area. |
If you are interested and feel you could be considered as a representative in any of the above categories, in the specific areas, please could you forward your expression of interest to: Michelle Lloyd, Business Support Manager at: Michelle.lloyd3@wales.nhs.uk
The closing date for expressions of interest is Monday 4 April 2022.
All around Bridgend County Borough, communities are coming together to offer their support to the people of Ukraine with thoughts, prayers and donations of money, food and other essential items.
Council Leader Huw David said: “Bridgend County Borough Council continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine following the invasion by Russian forces.
“As an area which already provides a home for both Ukrainian and Russian nationals, we sympathise with our Ukrainian residents and share in their huge concerns. We also appreciate and support our Russian residents who, like us, have condemned the unacceptable aggression instigated by President Putin and continue to stand with Ukraine.
“These actions which have once more brought war to Europe are already having a devastating effect, and have rightly been condemned by democratic nations all across the world.
“Just as Wales is a place of sanctuary, so too is Bridgend County Borough, and it has been encouraging to see local communities enquiring about how they can offer help and support, and organising their own efforts.
“As the situation develops and we await further guidance from both UK Government and Welsh Government, we are ready to work alongside our partners, and fully support all efforts to bring an end to the conflict, prevent any further loss of life, and to deliver a peaceful and diplomatic solution.”
A public vigil is being organised to demonstrate local support for Ukraine and will be held at Dunraven Place in Bridgend town centre on Friday 4 March at 6pm.
Councillor David White, one of the organisers, said: “We expect it to last 45 minutes, the vigil will be attended by the Mayor of Bridgend County Borough and will include an address by Reverend Rachel Wheeler, a local choir and more. For further details, visit the vigil event page on Facebook.”
Elsewhere, local communities are organising their own collections for food, medicines and other essential items. Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO) will be accepting drop-off donations of toiletries, personal hygiene and medical items only at its community hub based at 112-113 Commercial Street in Maesteg between 10am-2pm on Thursday 3 – Friday 4 March, and Tuesday 8 – 9 March.
All donated items must be in good, clean condition. Items can include for example, wet wipes, nappies (all sizes), Calpol, Sudocream, dummies, personal hygiene products and toiletries such as sanitary towels, deodorant, toothpaste, soap, shampoo etc, paracetamol, all first aid kit essentials like plasters, bandages, antiseptic cream etc, thermal hats and gloves, torches, batteries and candles.
Heidi Bennett, Chief Executive of BAVO, said: “No food or clothing is required at this time as part of BAVO’s collection, but thermal hats, gloves, sleeping bags and blankets are welcome. If you are participating in an independently organised collection, please check what items are needed before donating, and ensure that the people you are handing items to have a means to get the aid to where it is needed.
“Alternatively, you can donate funds to bonafide organisations so that items can be purchased in countries such as Poland without the need to transport them from the UK, so people are also being encouraged to donate funding if possible.”
Established organisations accepting financial donations include (but are not limited to) the following:
Both the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain and the Home Office website are offering support for family members of British nationals in Ukraine, and also Ukrainian nationals living within the UK. You can access further advice from a volunteer legal adviser by emailing ukraine@freemovement.org.uk.
Further advice and guidance about the UK immigration and asylum system can be found at the Right To Remain website or Bridgend Citizens Advice, while latest foreign travel advice is available at the Government website.
The Wellbeing Assessment is the evidence base for the Wellbeing Plan and will be used to identify the key priorities for the next five years. The Wellbeing Plan is due to be published in April 2023. Wellbeing is about quality of life, and how that is connected to the environment, the economy, the services we need and the culture we share.
Over 450,000 people live in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg area.
Many things have shaped our communities and our wellbeing, such as industrial heritage, the landscape and shared interests in sport and the arts, giving a rich history and future opportunity. These can be considered as social, economic, environmental and cultural factors.
The online survey is available here.
Carers Trust South East Wales (CTSEW) have been successful in securing some funding from Welsh Government via Carers Trust Wales, to deliver a series of FREE wellbeing workshops for unpaid carers in partnership with Elemental Health, all workshops are being delivered virtually.
Carers are required to submit their expression of interest in the workshop(s) via this link: https://forms.office.com/r/3ugAApKtWM
Each session will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
They are delivering 16 workshops, eight for young carers and eight for adult carers.
Workshop details YOUNG CARERS – February 2022:
There will be a safeguarding officer from CTSEW present for all young carers sessions, and CTSEW hold evidence of DBS checks and qualifications for workshop facilitators.
Workshop details ADULT CARERS (18 years+) – February 2022:
If you have any questions, please contact Mel Thomas (melanie.thomas@ctsew.org.uk), or Lauren Barne (lauren.barne@ctsew.org.uk) 01495 769996
Cooperative Cymru, with funding from the Welsh Government have been allocated a number of iPads for their Connecting Carers project.
There are currently 8 devices available to loan, which will initially be for a 3 month period. These devices will be available to carers who may benefit from using it to connect with others.
Additionally, the project is looking to run online Zoom courses to help with your skills using this hardware.
If interested, follow the Connecting Carers Facebook page, and enquire.
The Welsh Government have produced an easy-to-read guide on how to acquire, and use your COVID passes, for those who have had trouble doing so.
The guide also entails how to easily get a COVID test through the NHS.
The guide can be accessed here.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg Local Health Board and Bridgend County Borough Council asked BAVO for help in promoting their Wellbeing Assessment Survey. They were looking for feedback from all kinds of people across all areas of the County which they will use to inform planning of services over the new few years.
At present 364 charities voluntary and community groups have BAVO membership; we contacted them all to ask them for help in getting the survey out to all the people they work with and encouraging them to complete it . We also circulated to networks that BAVO is involved with. As an incentive, BAVO ran a free prize draw ; everyone who provided us with details of their returned survey was entered.
BAVO’s community navigators, who work on the ground across the County, supported some of their clients to complete surveys, as did other BAVO team members.
We had feedback from some organisations that the survey was difficult to understand; in response to this Bridgend Council and People First produced an “easy read” version in English and Welsh which we re-circulated.
Not all of the returns came back to BAVO, some went straight to the Council, however we know that people from quite a lot of different organisations and communities completed them, including an 82 year old supported by one of our navigators and a 12-year old young person, supported by his teacher.
The winner of the prize draw was Nic Williams a volunteer trainee with Western Beacons Mountain rescue, pictured here with the Amazon Vouchers prize. (photo to follow).
