Get Help with Food, Gas, Electric and Water

Published Saturday 1 April, 2023
Last updated on Tuesday 16 May, 2023

Household Support Fund

You may be eligible for help with your food and the cost of utilities through the Household Support Fund.

Funded by UK Government, the scheme is for those most in need of support to help with significantly rising living costs.

Swale Borough Council will be working with local organisations to deliver support with food and fuel provision through a network of established agencies within the Borough.

Who can we help

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a Swale resident
• Be Aged over 16 or as part of a household application
• Be at risk because you do not have access funds to support you
• Have less than £500 in your bank account

What you’ll get

• Food parcel
• Fuel vouchers for pre-paid meters
• Vouchers for billed utility accounts
• Information and guidance

How to apply

For access to emergency food provision in the form of a food parcel, please contact the food bank in your area:

• Sheerness (Family Food Bank), email hsf@children-families.org or call 01795 889233
• Sittingbourne (Swale Food Bank), email info@swale.foodbank.org.uk or call 07486 370709
• Multicultural (Diversity House), email info@diversityhouse.org.uk or call 01795 420455

Other food support in Faversham

• Faversham (West Faversham Community Association), email support@westfavershamca.org or call 01795 537321
• Faversham Foodbank email info@faversham.foodbank.org.uk or call 07938720604

For support with a pre-paid gas or electricity meter vouchers (in line with the Fuel Bank Foundation criteria):

• the Fuel and Water Home Advisor
• Citizen Advice Swale

Support for pensionable aged residents

Can your utility company help?

Most utility providers can support people who are struggling to pay their bills including Southern Water:

• Southern Water – What if I can’t pay my Bill

Contact your provider to ask them about their emergency fund and what support is available.

For more information visit

Help for Households - Get government cost of living support