Southwark Council Cost of Living Fund

There is a new Southwark Cost of Living Fund this autumn and winter (October 2024 to March 2025).

The Southwark Cost of Living Fund is for vulnerable or low-income households at risk of hardship due to the higher cost of food, energy, and other essentials. 

Energy prices are rising again this winter. Most support from the new fund will be for our lowest income and most vulnerable residents, including children and young people, the elderly, those who are sick and disabled with care needs, and low-income households living in energy-inefficient homes that are more expensive to heat.

You can find more about what support is available now below. More information will be added as other forms of support become available later this winter.

Holiday free school meals

If you have one or more children attending a Southwark school who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals, you will receive help paying for their meals during the October half-term, Christmas & New Year holidays and February half-term.

The support is worth £3 per day (the value of a daily school meal) per eligible child. 

Support will be provided automatically just before each holiday period, sent by email or post in the form of a Post Office voucher.  You don’t need to apply but you can use our contact form if you have questions about holiday free school meals.

Holiday clubs for children aged 4 to 16

If your child gets benefits-related free school meals they can join a Food and Fun holiday club in Southwark this winter. The clubs run fun activities and provide healthy and free food.

Supporting residents move to Universal Credit

The UK government is replacing legacy benefits with Universal Credit. Households in Southwark still receiving these benefits must apply for Universal Credit between October 2024 and March 2025. This includes anyone getting Housing Benefit.

If you or your partner receive Housing Benefit (alone or with other benefits) and get a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions telling you to apply for Universal Credit, we will give you a one-time payment of £250 from the Southwark Cost of Living Fund. This payment will help you pay for food, energy, and other essentials while you wait five weeks for your first Universal Credit payment.

Page last updated: 20 November 2024