Different types of support is available for anyone in Portsmouth having difficulties affording food and essentials.
Food and essentials
Help with food
Find food banks, community pantries and larders, and other places that will provide a supply of food to anyone who is struggling.
- Food banks provide around 3 days food for your whole household if you can’t afford to buy food. Some food banks need a referral, and some can help you without being referred. Find out how you can get a referral.
- Free school meals – find out if you are eligible and apply.
- Community meals – Anyone who needs a hot meal can visit any of the services included in the Community Meals list. You don’t need a referral
- Community pantries and larders give you the option to pay a small fee to join, then buy weekly groceries at a reduced price.
- Special store offers – some stores are running campaigns to reduce food poverty, period poverty and food waste. Campaigns are usually advertised in store so look out for signs. Lidl offers a Too Good To Waste box for £1.50. A 5kg box filled with fruit and vegetables which are still good to use, but would have otherwise been thrown away.
Support for parents
- Household Support Fund Family Vouchers for low-income families with children, or families expecting children, who didn’t qualify for previous voucher schemes. Find out more and apply.
- Tax free childcare – If you’re a working parent or carer, you can get up to £500 every three months (up to £2,000 a year per child) to help with the costs of childcare. If your child has a disability, you can get up to £1,000 every three months (up to £4,000 a year per child). You can use it to pay for childcare including: childminders, nurseries and playschemes, before and after school clubs, and holiday clubs. Find out if you’re eligible and how you can take advantage of this help.
- Holiday activities and food (HAF) HAF Fun Pompey Easter programme runs from Monday 3 April to Friday 14 April and bookings will be open from Thursday 9 March. Find out what activities are on offer and book in advance.
- Free school meals are available to families who get certain benefits.
- NHS Healthy Starts scheme can provide help to buy healthy food and milk if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4.
- Parents may also be able to get help with school uniform and childcare costs – Find more support for parents.
- The Portsmouth Baby Bank and Baby Basics are charities that aim to help alleviate child poverty and support families during times of financial and emotional stress. They can help with baby clothes, maternity items, toiletries, equipment, cots, prams etc. The service is free but you will need a referral from a either a support worker, Advice Portsmouth, a health visitor, GP or midwife etc.
Support for pet owners
Our pets are part of our families but caring for a pet can be costly, and at a time that many people are having to make difficult decisions about how they spend money.
- Pet food – Money raised from our car boot sale events plus kind donations from local businesses and charities have meant that animal products can be offered via foodbanks and pantries to support pet owners. Read more about this support.
- Pet charity PDSA offers free treatments and help with the cost of prescribed medication for your pets if you receive certain benefits. Find out what help you can get for your pet
- Streetvet is a registered charity that provides free, essential vet care to the pets of those experiencing homelessness. Find out how you can refer a pet that needs help.
Ways to save money on your food bill
There are simple ways to help you reduce the cost of feeding yourself and your family. With just a few changes to your buying and cooking habits, you can save money and still keep the flavour and nutritional value of your food. Here are some ideas:
- Plan your meals: Create a meal plan for the week ahead, and make a shopping list based on the ingredients you’ll need. Don’t shop for food when you’re hungry. This will help you avoid those impulse buys that really add up, and reduce food waste.
- Shop smart: Look for sales, buy generic value ranges, use coupons and store loyalty cards and buy in bulk when you can.
- Cook at home: Eating out can be expensive, so try to cook most of your meals at home. This will also give you more control over the ingredients you use, which can help you eat healthier.
- Avoid processed and convenience foods: This type of food is often more expensive and less healthy than whole foods. Cooking from scratch is cheaper, healthier and the whole family can help out.
- Use leftovers: Don’t let leftovers go to waste. Use them to make new meals or take to work or school for lunch the next day.
- Freeze food: If you have food left over or you’ve bought more than you need, freeze it for later.
Read more about saving money on your food shop and ways to eat healthy on a budget:
Essentials
Find ways to cover the costs of some of life’s essentials, everything from school uniform and school meals to household items and repairs of things like bicycles and electrical appliances.
- There are places in Portsmouth where you can find free furniture and household items.
- The Repair Café is a free monthly pop-up social event where you can learn how to repair and mend your things with the help of friendly volunteers, including broken appliances, stuck zips, rusty tools, old bicycles and clothing.
- The Portsmouth Library of Things is a community project where you can borrow items that you don’t use often, like DIY tools, kitchen appliances, camping gear, party supplies, sports equipment and more.
- There are a number of grants available to help those facing financial hardship
- If you’re over 75 and on pension credit, you can get a free TV licence.
- Money Saving Expert is a great place to find deals and tips on how to save money on your shopping.