This page will continue to be added to as we know more about the support available during these ever changing times.
Support for families
Families in hardship and needing wider support
In addition to the offer of FSM vouchers for eligible families, there is support available for families who are facing hardship and need support. Please share this with your families as appropriate.
Anyone experiencing hardship may be able to receive support through the Norfolk Assistance Scheme (NAS), which may be able to provide support for food, fuel, clothes and other essential household items to families experiencing hardship. Wider support from a range of partners can then also be made available with NAS working alongside the Children’s Services Community and Partnerships service.
Families may get in touch with NAS via their dedicated website which includes an online application form on the Norfolk County Council website or if they cannot access the internet, they can call 0344 800 8020.
During the coronavirus outbreak, we know getting accurate, up to date information is more important than ever. The team is working hard, collating the latest information on support and services available to help our Norwich residents.
https://www.lumi.org.uk/covid-19/
https://www.lumi.org.uk/resources/resources-and-toolkits/coronavirus-help-and-guidance/
Supporting families with food during the pandemic
You can find information about Food and Food Parcels on the Lumi website:
https://www.lumi.org.uk/covid-19/
The Feed has a list of food assistance available in Norwich on their website.
https://thefeed.org.uk/foodassistance
Norfolk County Council information about free school meals: UPDATED JUNE 2021
Support has been extended to cover the Summer 2021 holiday for pupils eligible for means-tested Free School Meals.
We are delighted that Norfolk County Council has received a further Covid grant from DWP and is able to continue to work with food voucher company, Edenred, to provide support for all families with children eligible for means-tested Free School Meals. This includes children in the early years who receive EY Pupil Premium, those in post-16 education in receipt of bursary funding and those Elective Home Educated children that the LA are aware of that would be eligible to means-tested FSM should they attend school.
We are again asking all Norfolk schools and colleges to order vouchers for their means-tested FSM-eligible pupils to cover a six-week period over the school summer holidays at the rate of £15 per eligible pupil per week via the NCC EdenRed portal i.e. a total of £90 per eligible child for the summer. Please ensure all orders placed are marked as “Summer 21” to distinguish from term time orders and avoid being charged, as NCC is covering the cost of the holiday vouchers.
Please continue to encourage eligible families to register for free school meals as this will enable them to qualify for these vouchers as well as the other support available.
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools/school-meals-and-milk
Links to activities for children and families
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/education-and-learning/adult-learning/courses/family-learning-courses
https://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/
https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
https://www.crayola.com/education
http://alphaic.co.uk/category/downloads/
Summary of services to support with mental health during Covid-19
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Help in a crisis. 24/7 helpline offering immediate advice, support and signposting for people of any age with mental health difficulties. Helpline: 0808 196 3494 https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Find-help/Pages/Help-in-a-Crisis.aspx
UEA are offering a free new online course: Anxiety in children and young people during covid-19 (for teachers, supporters, guardians and parents of children affected by covid-19)
YoungMinds https://youngminds.org.uk/ Crisis Text Line – Text YM to 85258
Wellbeing support – free virtual social events from the wellbeing service http://www.wellbeingnands.co.uk
If you need more support:
Currently Early Help Hubs are still being manned. Contact your local hub on:
South : 01508 533701 email earlyhelphubsouth@S-NORFOLK.GOV.UK / City : 01603 212121 email nehh@norwich.gov.uk
Local charities are continuing to work together to ensure that people can access quality information, advice, and specialist legal help. Below is a summary of the current service provision from support organisations in Norwich. These are of course subject to change.
A summary of local support organisations – for families and professionals
| Charity | Telephone | Email/Web Chat/Referral System |
| Age UK Norwich | Advice line remains open: 01603 496333. | Referral System currently open. enquiries@ageuknorwich.org.uk |
| Age UK Norfolk | Advice line remains open: 0300 500 1217. Money Matters service will contacting each client to check needs. | Referral System currently open. advice@ageuknorfolk.org.uk |
| Shelter | Advice line remains open: 03445151860. | Referral System currently open. norfolk@shelter.org.uk |
| Equal Lives | Telephone line remains open: 01508491210 | Referral System currently open. info@equallives.org.uk |
| MAP | Telephone line remains open: 01603 766994 | Referral System currently open. info@map.uk.net |
| Norfolk Community Law Service | Telephone line remains open and advice will be provided via telephone when possible: 01603 496623 | Referral System currently open. info@ncls.co.uk |
| Norfolk Citizens Advice | Telephone line remains open: 03444111444 | Referral System currently open. www.ncab.org.uk and click ‘email advice’. Webchat available. |
| Dawn’s New Horizon | Tel: 0844 884 3140 | Supporting victims of domestic abuse – food parcels to help people suffering from domestic abuse and families who have fled abuse. Email: dawnsnewhorizon@yahoo.com |
| Home Start | 01603 977040 | Fully responsive remote service to support referred families – telephone advice and support, signposting and referring to essential services. We are currently accepting new referrals – admin@homestartnorfolk.org or complete referral form online – http://www.homestartnorfolk.org |
| Nelson’s Journey | 01603 431788 | If you need guidance on how to provide bereavement support for a child(ren) please call our Support Line, email us at enquiries@nelsonjourney.org.uk, or refer on our website – http://www.nelsonsjourney.org.uk |
| Carers Matter Norfolk | 0800 083 1148 | Free 7-days a week advice line, 1:1 support, counselling, education and training and carers voice. |
| Take Our Hand Bereavement Support | Bereavement support to young people aged 16-24 living in Norfolk. Email, info@takeourhand.org.uk or visit http://www.takeourhand.org.uk | |
| Active At Home | 0344 800 8020 | If you would like support over the phone to exercise at home, call and ask for a free call back from Active Norfolk for tailored 1:1 guidance to exercise safely at home |
| Victim Support | 0300 303 3706 / 0808 168 9111 | Online services include Live Chat, a 24/7 online support service – available to all. Visit http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/live-chat |
| Pitt Stop | Specialist support for clients feeling suicidal or suffering with their mental health with 3 x weekly online sessions. Contact andy.andywood@gmail.com / 07584 253441 |
