NEW Forest residents are being given additional cost of living support at five community hubs.

Members of the public are given the chance to meet with officers from New Forest District Council’s benefits and housing teams, as well as Citizens Advice New Forest, at each of the hubs on a weekly basis.

They are given cost of living advice, and can be signposted to additional support if necessary.

Read more: Cost of living crisis protest in Bournemouth town centre

The community hubs are located in Calshot, New Milton, Totton, Pennington, and Fordingbridge, and take place alongside the five exisitng FareShare food larders which offer food essentials for a reduced fee.

Timings are detailed below:

  • Nedderman Centre in New Milton: Wednesdays from 9.30am to 10.30am
  • Testwood Baptist Church in Totton: Wednesdays from 9.30am to 11.30am
  • St George’s Hall in Calshot: Thursdays from 12.30pm to 1.30pm
  • St Mark’s Community Hall in Pennington: Thursdays from 1pm to 2pm
  • Avonway Community Centre in Fordingbridge: Fridays from 1.30pm to 2.30pm.

As well as supporting the five community hubs, New Forest District Council continues to offer other cost of living support, and has a dedicated cost of living hub on their website.

Here, residents can find regularly updated advice and information about help with food, housing costs, energy and water bills, council tax, money concerns, and disability payments.

Visit it at https://www.newforest.gov.uk/costofliving