Help with food

If you're struggling to pay for food, free independent benefits and money advice and support is available for all residents, covering benefits, debts and employment.

Use our benefits calculator to make sure you are not missing out on any financial support.

A range of support with food is also available; see information about:

• York Crisis and Resilience Fund
• Free school meals
• Holiday Activities and Food
• York Fuel and Food Voucher Scheme
• York Foodbank
• Community food banks

York Crisis and Resilience Fund

York Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Discretionary Payments provide a safety net for those who encounter a financial shock and need urgent financial assistance via 2 types of payments:

1. CRF Crisis Payments: Providing support to those in crisis.
2. CRF Housing Payments: Provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs.

Crisis payments can be considered for

• essential costs to alleviate a crisis and improve individuals financial resilience
• food and hygiene products
• energy bills, including electricity, gas and oil
• water bills, including sewerage
• council tax arrears
• internet connection
• essential household items, such as cooker, washing machine, bed
• essential transport-related costs, such as repairing a car, buying a bicycle, or paying for fuel
• some exceptional housing costs

These payments replace 3 previous local support schemes:

• CRF Crisis Payments replace YFAS and Household Support Fund (HSF)
• CRF Housing Payments replace Discretionary Housing Payments

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Free school meals

You may be entitled to apply for free school meals for your children if you receive 1 of the qualifying income-related benefits.

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Holiday Activities and Food

A range of holiday activity schemes will be available for children and young people during the Christmas, Easter and Summer school holidays. Details of events and activities can be found on the Holiday Activities and Food Raise York webpage. The sessions will include a variety of fun activities, including sports, music, arts and other exciting opportunities to learn and develop skills, alongside a nutritious meal each day. They are being provided to targeted children as part of the government’s expanded Holiday Activities and Food programme which is being delivered across the City of York area.

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York Fuel and Food Voucher Scheme

Fuel and food vouchers are available to York residents as part of advice and support services and where people have immediate need.

Services will discuss the best options for people depending on their circumstances. This may be an appointment or referral to another service.

Applications to our York Fuel and Food Voucher Scheme are considered as part of the advice and support services; and people will need to provide confirmation of their circumstances.

See details of advice and support services in York.

If people need assistance with food, but do not want to contact a support service, or this is not appropriate, other support is available from:

• York Financial Assistance Scheme
• York Foodbank
• Community food banks

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York Foodbank

York Foodbank work with us, and over 150 agencies (such as Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children’s centres, health visitors, social services, charities, community groups, statutory bodies, schools, the Police, and medical experts) who all can issue Foodbank vouchers.

Once you have a voucher, you can then exchange it at one of the Foodbank locations for a food parcel, specific to your needs.

Food parcels contain 3 days worth of essentials, typically including: breakfast cereals, soup, pasta, rice, pasta sauce, tinned beans, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tinned fruit, tea or coffee, biscuits and snacks.

Each Foodbank has a cafe-style environment and is staffed by non-judgemental people who want to support people, and can offer practical advice and guidance.

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Community food banks

Community food banks are organised by local community groups and offer a variety of support.

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Also see

• Change of circumstances and benefits
• Live Well York