We have heard from a contact in the BaNES Council Public Health department that the Council hopes to continue to offer discretionary payments for fuel in the coming financial year from April 2023. The funding is administered by Citizens Advice.
These payments cover gas bottles, coal, wood etc as well as gas and electricity for houses. They can be delivered anywhere in BaNES including to boats and Traveller sites. The payment has recently been £120 for a single person and £200 for a couple or family.
To obtain the payments, you have to be referred by a professional local organisation – you can’t refer yourself. The organisation to contact is Julian House. See
https://www.julianhouse.org.uk/service/travelling-communities-support-and-engagement-service-bath-north-east-somerset/
See also https://www.citizensadvicebanes.org.uk/fueltopup/
If boaters have any other support needs they want help with, the Julian House team can make a referral to the Council’s multi-agency Wellbeing Hub team as well.
Tags: BANES Council, Citizens Advice, continuous cruising, fuel costs, Health, Julian House, liveaboards, Travelling Community Support Service, welfare