Switching provider or accessing discounted social tariffs can help households save money. If you're struggling with energy bills it may be worth contacting your supplier to see if they have a hardship fund or are offering deferred payments.
Anglian Water offer tariffs for low income households which can offer up to 50% discount on water and sewage charges. Residents can call the Extra Care Team on 0800 169 3630 to discuss switching tariff or discuss other ways that Anglian Water could help.Visit their website for more information. (opens new window)
Housing Benefit
If you are pensionable age, or working age and living in Supported or Temporary accommodation you can apply for Housing Benefit for help with your rent. If you do not meet these conditions, you will need toapply for Universal Credit (opens new window) for help with your housing costs. How much you get depends on your household income, circumstances and housing status.
Council Tax Reduction
You can apply for a reduction in your Council Tax bill if you're on a low income or claiming benefits.
Discretionary Payments are short term or one off payments that are given to anyone experiencing exceptional financial hardship. You must be receiving Housing Benefit, the Housing Element of Universal Credit or Council Tax Reduction to be considered for it.
There are two discretionary payment funds available:
Discretionary Housing Payments - for those receiving Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit
Discretionary Exceptional Hardship Payments - for those receiving Council Tax Reduction
If you want to make a claim you must:
be receiving either Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction or the Housing Element of Universal Credit
explain in writing why you need extra help
be able to provide evidence to support your application
All applications are assessed on a case by case basis.
If you are in receipt of certain benefits, have high fuel costs, or have underlying health issues, you may be eligible for support from a housing grant.
For more information on housing, homelessness and other grants and loans available through our Housing Team, please visit ourHousing web page.
Financial Support
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund is money given to Norfolk County Council by the UK Government to help people who are struggling with everyday costs, such as food and energy bills. The current funding is available from April 2025 until March 2026.
Local councils have also received some of this money.
If you need help with essentials, a professional who is supporting you can make an application to Breckland Council on your behalf.
Residents cannot apply directly. If you or someone you know requires welfare or wellbeing support, visit ourHealth and Wellbeing orFood pages for details of how Breckland Council may be able to help. Alternatively, please find details about the Norfolk Crisis Support Fund below.
If you are a professional working with Breckland residents who need financial support, please e-mail us at community@breckland.gov.uk (please do not send resident details by email).
Crisis Support Fund
The Crisis Support Fund can help you with the costs of food and gas/electricity.
You can apply directly (no referral needed) using the online form or over the phone. You will need to complete an application form and provide a bank statement to verify your situation.
The Customer Service Centre at Norfolk County Council can support you with completing an online application, if you are unable to do so yourself. You can reach them on 0344 800 8020.
Client Hardship Service
The Client Hardship Service (CHS) provides a range of support which includes supporting you with money management and budgeting support and advice, supporting grant applications, providing cost comparisons for utilities and supporting with switching to cheaper providers or tariffs. Please see their website for full details of the support they offer.
If you don't have enough to live on whilst you wait for your first payment, you can ask for anadvance payment (opens new window) after you've made a claim. You can also ask for a hardship payment if you cannot pay for rent, heating, food or hygiene needs or because you got a sanction. You need to pay it back through your Universal Credit payments - they'll be lower until you pay it back.
Change how you get your Universal Credit:
If you're having financial difficulties or you're behind on your rent, you or your landlord may be able to apply for an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA).
Depending on your circumstances, you could get an APA to:
Get your rent paid directly to your landlord
Get paid more frequently than once a month
Receive split payments, if you're part of a couple
Speak to your work coach to apply for an APA.
Other benefits you can claim:
If you want to claim a benefit without your savings, your partner's savings or their income being taken into account, you can apply for either:
Pension Credit is available to residents of State Pension age and on a low income, to help with living costs. Pension credit is a 'passport' benefit which allows access to other support such as Warm Homes Discount and NHS dental treatment.
Offer free, impartial advice on debt, benefits, employment and housing issues. To make sure you're getting all of the support you're entitled to, get in touch directly via the Advice line on freephone 0800 1448848 or via theCitizens Advice website. (opens new window)
CAP
Get free professional help getting out of debt, budgeting, making your money go further or help finding a job. CAP have debt centres in Dereham and Mid-Norfolk which offer face-to-face, video and telephone appointments. Clients are linked up with a befriender to provide practical and emotional support through the journey out of debt.
CAP works with local churches and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This service is suitable for those with low literacy and mental health needs.
Credit unions offer an alternative to traditional banks and building societies for saving and borrowing. They can sometimes beat the rates on the high street. Take a look at local options atFind Your Credit Union (opens new window)
Food
Nourishing Norfolk Food Hubs
There are now a number of Food Hubs located across Breckland. Please find your nearest Food Hub below:
The Burrell Supermarket, Charles Burrell Centre, Thetford, IP24 3LH
The Food Cabin, Wellspring Family Centre, 35 Neatherd Road, Dereham, NR19 2AE
The Pantry, next to Kenninghall Village Hall, School Close, Kenninghall, NR16 2EL
Watton Food Hub, Watton Community Centre, Harvey Street, Watton, IP25 6EB
The Shelf, Pop-Up Pantry - Mobile Food Hub in Breckland - Visit the webpage for more information: The Shelf Pop-Up Pantry
Community Fridges
Pick up surplus food and prevent food waste by visiting your nearest Community Fridge. There are four community fridges in Breckland, which anyone can access and the food is free of charge as it's nearing its sell-by date. So far Community Fridges have helped thousands connect to their communities, access nutritious food, save money and reduce waste.
Food banks in Breckland welcome and support everyone who is referred to them, always acting with respect and without judgment. Volunteers will give a minimum of three days' emergency food and offer support to resolve some of the difficulties you might be facing.
In order to get help from a food bank you will need to be referred with a voucher. These can be obtained from Breckland Council, please call 01362 656870
Breckland Food banks are located at the following locations:
If you are in financial hardship and cannot pay your living costs, the Client Hardship Service may be able to support with essential kitchen appliances, such as a fridge, freezer or cooker if you are eligible.
If you are eligible for free school meals, you will also receive a monthly 'cost of living' voucher.
The vouchers will be £15 per month, per child. Additional payments of £15 will be made in April for Easter, in July and August for the school summer holidays, and in December for Christmas.
The vouchers will be paid up to and including March 2026.
If you receive a means-tested benefit and are entitled for Free School Meals (Pupil Premium) you will automatically receive the vouchers from your child's school.
If you haven't received your voucher or have any other issues please send an email to freeschoolmealsparentscarers@edenred.com providing your name, your child's name and the name of your child's school.
The vouchers are provided by Edenred and can be used for food and groceries.
The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun is a Norfolk County Council scheme, delivered alongside our partners Active Norfolk, to help your child move lots, eat well and have fun.
It is a government funded programme to provide school aged children eligible for free school meals with access to free healthy meals and activities in the school holidays.
The scheme provides holiday activities for children and young people aged 5-16 years old in Norfolk. If your child is 4 years old but they are in school, they can take part.
Children not in receipt of free school meals can also attend but a fee is applicable.
Covering the whole of Breckland, Welfare Officers undertake a holistic assessment of needs and offer information, guidance and signposting to organisations who are well placed to provide the support someone needs.
The type of referrals we can accept include low level financial issues; health concerns which are impacting well-being and loneliness and isolation. Officers can help with referrals into hardship funds and targeted support such as social prescribing, whose services have specific referral criteria.
We are unable to provide emergency or high threshold support where police, ambulance, fire, GP or social care services are required.
We accept self-referrals or referrals from family, friends or a professional - but you must obtain the person's consent.
Breckland residents may have access to social prescribing services via their GP surgery, which is delivered by a range of providers. Social prescribing takes a holistic approach to supporting residents by offering people time to explore their issues and take greater control of their health, wellbeing and social welfare.
Social prescribing works for a range of people, including:
Those with one or more long-term conditions.
Those who need support with their mental wellbeing.
Those feeling lonely or isolated.
Those experiencing financial or housing issues.
Those who have complex social needs that impact their wellbeing.
Those who are carers or supporting others in some way.
Breckland residents can contact their GP surgery directly to enquire about a referral into social prescribing. If this is not available at your GP surgery, all residents can self-refer to our Welfare Officers as detailed above.
If you are a registered patient at Orchard Surgery, Theatre Royal Surgery, Mattishall and Lenwade Surgery, Toftwood Surgery, Shipdham Surgery or North Elmham Surgery, you can self refer via the online form on ourSocial Prescribing web page.
Mental Health
If you are struggling to cope with life's challenges, are feeling stressed or overwhelmed and want to access help, there are a range of services available to Breckland residents.
Crisis Support
If you need an emergency service call 999 - (e.g. someone's life is at risk or you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe) • If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, call 111 and select option 2. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week • You can also call your GP
Free listening services
These services offer confidential support from trained volunteers. You can talk about anything that's troubling you, no matter how difficult: • Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans • Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line • If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies (opens new window) : Norfolk & Waveney Talking Therapies provide a range of support for people with common mental health and emotional issues, such as low mood, depression or stress. We work with you to help you make the necessary changes to improve your wellbeing and quality of life. Call 0300 123 1503
The Vulnerability Registration Service (VRS) gives vulnerable people a single place to register their status, helping them avoid repeating the same difficult conversations each time they engage with organisations such as lenders and creditors. The service aims to help vulnerable consumers protect themselves against the financial, social and personal hardship suffered as a result of debt and financial problems.
If you're a member of the Armed Forces Community looking for support in relation to your health and wellbeing, financial circumstances, housing, employability and more -please visit our webpage for links to services which can help and support you and your family.
Period Products and Toiletries
If you're struggling to afford sanitary products or toiletries, free grab and go bags containing these items are available from all Norfolk libraries.
The Cuppa Care Bus aims to bring people together and tackle loneliness.
Whether you just want to get out of the house, to meet new people, or chat about something that's worrying you - they have friendly people on hand who can help.
Come on your own or with a friend, you'll be more than welcome to join them for a cuppa and a chat.
Active Norfolk work alongside other local partners to help Norfolk residents to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
As part of their Active NoW scheme, local healthcare professionals can refer eligible residents (such as those with certain long-term health conditions), for support to increase their physical activity. Referral information can be found on the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System's website. (opens new window)
An Assisted Bin Collection is available to those who can't manage to put their bins out for collection. An assisted collection is when the bin crew collects your bin from its normal storage space, takes it to the bin lorry for emptying, and then returns it back to its storage space.
We work in partnership with the emergency services, health services, voluntary sector and community groups and partner agencies within the Norfolk Resilience Forum.
For information on winter weather emergency updates, loss of utilities, flooding and the priority services register, visit ourEmergency Planning Webpages
If you are on low income, you may be eligible for support via Winter Fuel Payments (if you are over state pension age) or the Warm Home Discount Scheme. Information about these, as well as other sources of support, can be found on theGov.UK website (opens new window)
Some energy suppliers have grants available to support customers who are in debt with their energy.The British Gas Energy Trust (opens new window) have funds open to British Gas customers and customers of other suppliers.
This winter, Breckland Council is distributing free Warm Packs as part of its Mindful Towns and Villages programme, supporting residents to stay warm and well during the colder months.
Building on the success of last year's initiative, the Warm Packs will be distributed through local community groups, listed below. Residents will not need to register or meet any eligibility criteria to receive comforting items such as blankets, insulated cups, slipper socks and soups - whilst stocks last.
Warm Welcome Spaces are opening their doors to local communities, offering everyone a free, warm, welcoming, and friendly space. It's your open invitation to come in, keep warm, connect with others, and make new friends
Age UK Norfolk's 'Temperature Check Your Winter' campaign ensures that older adults across the county have the support they need to keep their home warm, manage energy costs, and stay safe as the temperatures drop.
Working in agriculture and rural business can be rewarding, but it also comes with unique challenges - long hours, isolation, financial pressures, and unpredictable conditions. Breckland Council is committed to supporting the wellbeing of our farming and rural communities.
Where to Get Help
YANA (You Are Not Alone):
Help for those involved in agriculture and other rural businesses affected by stress and depression.
Provide a range of support for people with common mental health and emotional issues, such as low mood, depression or stress. We work with you to help you make the necessary changes to improve your wellbeing and quality of life.
If you need an emergency service call 999 - (e.g. someone's life is at risk or you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe) If firearms are involved, ALWAYS call the Police.
If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, call 111 and select option 2. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
You can also call your GP
Free listening services
These services offer confidential support from trained volunteers. You can talk about anything that's troubling you, no matter how difficult:
Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line
Rural and Farming Resources
Addington Fund
Emergency relief and housing for families in England and Wales who must leave the industry and therefore lose their home, through no fault of their own.
Call them or send an email and to discuss your situation in full confidence.
Established by NFU Mutual, the Farm Safety Foundation is an independent charity to help young farmers challenge their behaviours and change their attitude to farm safety.
Breckland Council Welfare Officers undertake a holistic assessment of needs and offer information, guidance and signposting to organisations who are well placed to provide the support someone needs.
If you are unsure which organisations could help you, we can support you to access the right services for your circumstances.
We're the only council to have a dedicated Rural Business Advisor, Phil Garnham, who truly understands the issues faced by rural businesses. Offering advice on funding, finance, and connecting businesses with helpful networks.
Breckland Council is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for residents of all ages. We encourage everyone to stay active, connected, and involved in their communities, recognising that good health and wellbeing are essential throughout life, and especially in later years.
Our approach is shaped by the principles of Age Friendly Communities, a globally recognised, evidence-based framework that helps create places where people can age well. Through local partnerships, community-led initiatives, and accessible services, we aim to make Breckland a healthier, more supportive place to live.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies
Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies provide free services throughout Norfolk. They offer a range of talking therapies, workshops and groups that help reduce feelings of worry and low mood. Their online workshops include topics such as improving sleep, coping with bereavement and living well with physical health conditions.
The Cuppa Care bus visits towns and villages across Norfolk. Whether you want to get out of the house, meet new people, chat about something that's worrying you or get information and advice, the Cuppa Care bus has friendly people on board who can help.
In addition to the Cuppa Care bus, Hear for Norfolk also provide several services to support people with hearing loss and related conditions.
Living with Long-Term Conditions
Caring Friends for Cancer Mid-Norfolk
Helping people affected by cancer, they offer friendship, support and information, as well as services if you've been diagnosed with cancer, if you're caring for someone with cancer or if you're bereaved.
A national charity with representatives in the Breckland area. All of their information and support services are free to access.
They provide free support over the phone in more than 200 languages, and via webchat, to anyone with a potentially terminal illness, and those close to them. The service offers practical and emotional support including first questions after a terminal diagnosis and details about accessing services, guidance on planning for death and support for grief.
They also have information on palliative care for healthcare professionals too.
Alzheimer's Society's Norfolk and Waveney Dementia Support Service is an NHS funded, community support team for those living with Dementia and their carers.
Services can be accessed via phone, face to face, and with clinical and non-clinical expertise. Once service users have given consent, they can re-access the service at a later date, without the need to repeat themselves.
There are no maximum time limits and residents can use the service both in the early stages when they need lots of information and links to local services, and later on when issues become complex.
Pension Credit is available to residents of State Pension age and on a low income, to help with living costs. Pension credit is a 'passport' benefit which allows access to other support such as Warm Homes Discount and NHS dental treatment.
You can apply online or by calling the Pension Credit claim line: 0800 99 1234
Age UK Norfolk
Age UK Norfolk offer a range of support to older residents in Norfolk.
Their confidential free information and advice helpline is available to anyone aged 50 or over and their family. They can help on a range of subjects, including:
Benefit entitlement checks
Support in claiming benefits
Help with grants
Assisting you to complete forms and registration for Lasting Power of Attorney
Their Digital Health Hub can help you with the skills you need to access online health services. This includes things like how to make an online appointment with a GP and ordering repeat prescriptions online. These are one-to-one sessions, delivered online over Zoom, or in person in Norfolk libraries.
Norfolk Libraries also hold regular events to help you get online and learn digital skills. Further details can be found on the Norfolk County Council website: Digital support and skills courses (opens new window)
Tech Skills for Life
Tech Skills for Life is a partnership led by Norfolk County Council.
Sessions with their Community Tech Coaches are free. They aim to help you use tablets, computers, and smartphones, access the internet, and give you the skills and confidence to use technology in a way that works for you. They can also give advice about affordable broadband.
Now available for residents in Dereham, Swaffham, Thetford and Watton.
Providing support for residents who have cancer or terminal illness. The Home Hospice provides support and reassurance for patients and their families. Services are free and include:
