The Government's roadmap out of lockdown has begun. To read the latest Government advice about what you can and cannot do, please visit the Government website. 
The Council understands that this may be a difficult time for many, but there is help and support out there should you need it:
On the 4th May 2021, new regulations came into effect to help people in problem debt to better manage their finances. If you would like further information or would like to find out if you are eligible, please see our Breathing Space webpage.
If you are struggling to afford food and essentials, please contact Citizens Advice in the first instance who will be able to refer you to the relevant organisation. They can be contacted by calling 01329 223 117 or online through their website - details below.
(41 KB) on debt and money worries
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Thursday Evening: 5.00pm - 6.30pm
Residents can get their groceries and provisions once a week at a fraction of the cost by registering to a community pantry. The recommended donation is £5.00 per visit and customers will then receive a minimum of £15 worth of food, including fresh and frozen items, toiletries and household items.
There are three community pantries at the following locations. Each of the pantries are run slightly differently and have different registration criteria. Residents are encouraged to contact their local pantry before they visit to check opening days, times and registration details.
and must be reserved in advance before you visit.
Helping the local community in the Western Wards areas including Park Gate, Locks Heath, Priory Park, Warsash, Sarisbury and Titchfield:
- Community Pantry (170 KB)
(Tuesdays and Fridays 9 am–12 noon)
- Shopping for essentials
- Food parcels
- Prescriptions
- Activity packs
- Posting letters
- A friendly phone call
Here to help the community of Portchester and Fareham:
- Hot meal delivery service – Monday-Friday lunchtimes (between 12.30pm-1.30pm) freshly prepared and cooked each day, delivered to your door by one of their friendly drivers.
- Foodbank (free to those in need ) - Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-12pm
- Community Food Pantry (a scheme to help families into more independence) Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-12pm
- Click and Collect Book Service
Back to the FutureThe Back to the Future project aims to help vulnerable people who are struggling to re-engage with their communities following periods of isolation.
It could be helping with someone's first visit to the supermarket since lockdown measures have eased or getting on the bus, to attending a hospital or GP appointment or maybe just having a chat or cup of tea with someone.
Volunteers will provide short term support to individuals, equipping them with the skills and confidence to access the local community.
For more information please contact the Back to the Future team on 023 8090 2424 or email back2thefuture@1community.org.uk.
for the latest updates
- Medical appointment transport
- Vaccination appointment transport
- Shopping for essentials
- Prescriptions
- Befriending
- Home help service
- Gardening service
- Help to be able to use the internet
You need to self-isolate irrespective of your vaccination status or age if you or someone you live with show symptoms of Covid-19 and are awaiting a test result, or have tested positive for Covid-19. You can find guidance on self-isolation here (286 KB).
Find further information about self-isolation and testing for Covid-19 on the Government website .
On 20th September, the Government announced a new national Test and Trace Support scheme which commenced on 28th September 2020.
New package to support and enforce self-isolation (GOV.UK website)
In some circumstances, if you are required by law to self-isolate from the 28th September, you may be entitled to receive a "support payment" of £500 from Fareham Borough Council.
From 28th September, to get the Test and Trace Support Payment, you must:
If you have not received a notification from NHS Test and Trace telling you to self-isolate, you will not be eligible for the support payment.
If you have been furloughed with reduced income, you are not eligible unless you have been issued with a Test and Trace number.
People who come back to the UK and are quarantining are not eligible for the payment unless they have also been told to isolate and have been issued with a Test and Trace number.
From the 8 March 2021 Parents and Guardians who have a child who is sent home due to being in close contact with someone who has tested positive, can make a claim if the parent or guardian is
From the start of their isolation period, claimants will now have 42 days to apply for the payment.
If you are eligible, you will receive a single Support Payment of £500. This payment will be subject to income tax but will not be subject to National Insurance contributions.
For the Council to be able to process an application for a support payment, we will need you to supply the following information:
We will be asking for this information to be provided electronically wherever possible, e.g. with downloaded or scanned documents, screenshots, etc.
This is a national scheme which Government has asked local councils to administer, following strict eligibility criteria. However, councils will have some limited discretion for individuals who do not meet the strict criteria for the Test and Trace Support Payment but still need financial support to self-isolate. This will be funded from a cash limited fund and therefore will be kept under review. Please contact us direct on 01329 824646 if you meet the following criteria:
The scheme will run until 30th September 2021.
These changes came into effect on 28th September 2020, alongside the legal duty to self-isolate. You will be able to make a claim if you are told to self-isolate on or after the 28 September 2020. You will have up to 42 days to make a claim from the start of your self-isolation period.
If you apply, we will need to process your personal data to assess whether you are eligible to receive financial support, and if so, to provide a payment to you. This Privacy Notice sets out what personal data we will use, how we will use it, and why we need to, when an applicant applies for this support.
An application made by a parent or guardian will have the child's details checked with the educational or child care establishment. A check may also be made via the NHS Test and Trace eligibility checker.
Before deciding to apply please read the Privacy Notice in full here (241 KB).
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has commissioned NHS Test and Trace on behalf of the government and is the data controller for the purposes of providing Test and Trace data to Fareham Borough Council.
Fareham Borough Council are the data controller for the purposes of assessing eligibility, administering and making payments under the Test and Trace Support scheme.
If you believe you are eligible for a Test and Trace Support Payment, and are able to produce the evidence to support your application, you can contact the Council by completing and submitting the Test and Trace Self-Isolation Payment Request Form.
Alternatively, please contact us by emailing benefits@fareham.gov.uk, or phone 01329 824646.
You will need to provide your name, address and contact email/telephone number, and a member of the team will be in touch to discuss your application.
If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, you are no longer advised to shield.
However, you could be at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus, and therefore you should continue to follow the guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable .
The Connect to Support Hampshire website has a Coronavirus resource page with information to help you on a range of topics, including:
Visit the website to find out more.
The Hampshire Coronavirus Support and Helpline can be contacted on 0333 370 4000 (calls charged at local rate) or you can request a call-back from the helpline by completing the call-back request form.
The helpline is open 9am to 5pm weekdays.
The helpline can signpost you to information, advice and relevant services to support you with a range of issues, including:
The Covid-19 Special Grant programme aims to help address some of the financial pressures that smaller charitable, voluntary and community organisations may have faced during the pandemic.
Smaller organisations have not yet been able to access financial support and have seen a loss in finances due to being closed throughout the pandemic, as well as an increase in costs for PPE and cleaning materials when they have re-opened.
Organisations can apply for a one off grant to help cover these costs.
If you have any other questions or queries about help in the community please contact leisure@fareham.gov.uk
If you would like more information about council services during this time please visit our coronavirus page.
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