Help for families

Get £140 to help with food and other essentials

The new round of the Household Support Fund opened on 25 April. Apply for help paying for:

• Food
• Energy
• Bills
• Other essentials

If you’ve previously been awarded a grant you can now apply again. Grants are:

• If you have a child who receives means-tested free school meals you can get Holiday Food Vouchers for £20 per week, per child during the school holidays for May half-term and the six-week summer holidays

• Pensioners, carers, disabled people and/or households with four or more people can get a Household Support Grant for £140
• All other households can get a Household Support Grant for £70

If you have a child who receives means-tested free school meals, you apply to First Days Children's Charity.

Anyone else can apply to Citizens Advice Wokingham or Age UK Berkshire.

Apply to Household Support Fund

Help with school uniform

First Days Children’s Charity is now holding weekly opening hours for its low cost school uniform shop.

It will run every Thursday from 3pm to 6pm at the Elevate Centre in Wokingham, off Denmark Street (RG40 2AZ).

We’re working alongside the charity to help all students be able to get high-quality items at a reasonable price. Wokingham Lions Club is supporting the charity to open the shop each week, all are welcome.

This is possible through our Hardship Fund.

Expansion of free childcare from April 2024

From April free childcare is being expanded to include hundreds of extra families in Wokingham Borough.

For the first time eligible working parents of two-year-olds can get reduced costs on childcare.

If you want to get free childcare for your two-year-old in time for April, you must apply before 31 March.

Visit the Government’s free childcare guide for eligibility and how to apply.

Sustainable Warmth Grants

Residents on low incomes could get up to £25,000 of home improvements free of charge. This is through the Government's Sustainable Warmth Scheme. Or contact our energy team, which can also give advice on these grants.