Support for families
Welcome to the support for families page where you can find information and advice about housing, food banks, fuel and energy, employment and much more.
Healthy Holidays Hull – Summer Programme
Healthy Holidays Hull is back this summer with a fantastic range of opportunities for all school‑aged children. Every activity is completely free and offers the chance to learn new skills, make new friends, and enjoy fun, active sessions across the city.
Families can now use our new, easy‑to‑use website and booking system to quickly find activities and secure places. Simply scan the QR code, create a free Eequ account, choose your activities, and book instantly. For more information visit www.healthyholidayshull.org 
Riverside food support services in Hull- information for local food banks across Hull and different food pantries.
Unity in Community are a charity based in Hull who aim to support the most vulnerable people in society. We were successful in a funding application for supporting people struggling to top up their pre-payment meters across the country. As the cost of living continues to rise, we are aware that many people will be struggling to make ends meet. Unity in Community are able to support households with fuel vouchers; these vouchers are sent via text message. We would like to offer this support to the parents, carers and guardians of students who attend your school.
If you would like further information, please reply to this email, alternatively you can use the information below to pass directly on to the parents, carers and guardians –
Help Available – Gas & Electric: Unity in Community will be providing vouchers to help towards paying for gas and electricity. To qualify you must pay for your energy through a prepayment meter and have not received energy vouchers from Unity in Community within the past 12 months. This is in response to the ongoing cost of living crisis and beneficiaries can be working, unemployed, self-employed or retired. For more information and to register, call 01482 420836, Monday to Thursday 9am – 3pm & Friday 9am – 2.00pm – if busy, please keep trying.
We look forward to working with you to support families through a challenging time
Many families are currently struggling with rising living costs. That’s why it’s important to know what help and support is available now, that could benefit
- you
- a relative
- friend
- neighbour
Here are some practical actions that could help you or someone you know.
Our aim is to improve the financial well-being of our member-owners by providing ethical, affordable services that they are happy to continue using and recommending to their family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues. We are here to help our members to afford their lives – not to make profit out of them.
- We are a community bank that’s here to support everyone’s financial well-being with safe savings and affordable credit options.
- Anyone who lives or works in Hull (and beyond) can become a Credit Union Member for life, for free. Deposits are FSCS protected, just like in a bank.
- We are helping over 15,000 members to manage their money well, develop financial resilience by saving and avoid the clutches of high-cost lenders. Our small loans are many times cheaper than doorstep, payday etc while our larger loans can often beat the rates offered by banks.
- Employers like Hull City Council can let their workers pay in direct from their wages (the proven best way to help people start saving regularly) as a much valued staff well-being benefit.
- Rated Excellent (4.9) on Trust Pilot. Treat Customers Fairly UK Champions 2021.
- You can join online or in branch at 38 Brook Street, HU2 8LA. (between Prospect Centre and St Stephen’s, across from the interchange)
How Citizens Advice Bureaux can help you:
Advice areas they cover are:
- Welfare benefit entitlement calculations and applications
- Issuing of fuel and food vouchers
- Housing and immigration advice
- Budgeting advice and charitable applications
- Employment advice
- Debt advice and debt solutions
- Referrals to other support agencies
Generalist Adviceline: 0800 144 8848
Debt Advice appointment booking line: 01482 226859
Email advice: e-advice@hull-eastridingcab.org.uk
Drop in sessions at The Wilson Centre, Alfred Gelder Street:
- Monday 9am to 4.30pm
- Wednesday 10.30am to 4.30pm
- Friday 9am to 4.30pm
Warm Homes Team – Hull City Council
The Warm Homes Team provide an impartial fuel poverty advice service for householders and can provide a range of –
- grants
- advice
- support
All aimed at helping households to reduce the costs of keeping warm and well at home. We are also currently exploring new services to expand our options for residents for the winter season ahead of us, so please keep checking back for updates on this webpage.
You can also use the links found in the related to content section to find further information relating to repairs or improvements to your property.
How do you I find out more information?
Telephone: 01482 300300
Email: warmhomesteam@hullcc.gov.uk
Webpage: Warm Homes Team | Hull City Council
Hull Foodbank – Helping Local People In Crisis
THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IS TO GET A FOODBANK VOUCHER.
In order to provide the most appropriate help for the circumstances of your situation we work with local agencies. If they feel you are struggling to put food on the table, they will issue you with a foodbank voucher. The local agency can also provide long term support if needed to help address some of the issues behind the reasons for your crisis. Agencies we work with include: Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children’s centres, health visitors, social services and some local charities.
1. GET IN TOUCH WITH US.
If you call or email our foodbank we can talk through your situation and put you in touch with a relevant local agency.
2. ARRANGE A VISIT TO THE REFERRAL AGENCY.
They will discuss your situation and supply you with a foodbank voucher where appropriate.
If you are in financial crisis and live in England or Wales, please call 0808 2082138 for free (open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) to talk confidentially with a trained Citizens Advice adviser. They can help address your crises and provide support to maximise your income, help you navigate the benefits system, and identify any additional grants you could be entitled to. If needed, they’ll issue you with a voucher so you can get an emergency food parcel from your local food bank.
3. BRING YOUR FOODBANK VOUCHER TO YOUR NEAREST FOODBANK CENTRE.
You can find a list of our local centres and opening times here. When you arrive, we’ll welcome you with a warm drink and our trained volunteers will chat with you about your situation. We’ll also discuss any dietary needs you may have and exchange your foodbank voucher for a parcel of three days of emergency food. We’ll also help to support you in any other ways that we can. Most of our foodbank centres offer a cafe style environment and our aim is to provide non-judgemental support at the point of crisis.
If you have any further questions our FAQ’s page may help, or feel free to give us a call.
Other support available for food:
Healthy start vouchers/vitamins
Healthy cooking on a budget training: Healthy lifestyle team
– Email: healthylifestylesteam@hullcc.gov.uk
Healthy Holiday scheme: https://www.healthyholidayshull.org (free, fun physical activity and food providers over Summer/Xmas/Easter school holidays)
Vouchers: £15 per week food vouchers during school holidays for people who usually receive free school meals (FSM)
Fareshare is run through Goodwin and all the Children Centres have Fareshare schemes, where families with children can get a bag of food a week for £1. Our nearest Children centre is at The Parks children centre, Hall Road, Hull. Hull & Humber – FareShare
Homelessness and Housing
If you are concerned that you may become homeless or have housing issues please use the contacts listed below from Hull City council.
| Who to contact | |
|---|---|
| Nowhere safe to stay tonight | During office hours (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am- 4.30pm) Ring Housing Options on 01482 612040Out of hours Ring the emergency duty line on 01482 300304 |
| Homeless or threatened with homelessness | Tailored homelessness and housing advice available at: https://hull.adviceaid.uk/startSelf-referral form link at: www.hull.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/if-you-become-homelessOr call 01482 612040 (during office hours) |
| Current Hull City Council Tenants | Tenancy Office can be contacted at:
North and Foredyke North.ForedykeHousing@hullcc.gov.uk Park and East Riverside, West and Wyke RWWHousing@hullcc.gov.uk or via 01482 300 300 (officer will call back) |
| Other Housing Needs | Apply to Hull City Council’s housing register: www.hull.gov.uk/housing/find-home/register-housing-list
HomeSearch can be contacted at: Hull.homesearch@hullcc.gov.uk or via 01482 300 300 (officer will call back) |
