Useful Links and Contacts

Ceredigion Poverty Bulletin –

Costs for Families

The topic of the next bulletin – on 19 January – will be ‘Keeping warm at home’. If you’d like to include anything in this bulletin, please send us the information, bilingually if possible, by 17 January. Help Paying for your Childcare Get 30 hours of childcare for 3 and 4 year olds in Wales Childcare Offer for Wales – Ceredigion County Council Tax free Childcare For working families, including the self-employed, in the UK Apply for Tax-Free Childcare – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Universal Credit for Childcare for working families claiming Universal Credit, in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales Universal Credit childcare costs – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Further information is available: Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK – Ensure you click ‘Wales’ as each country is different. Digital Communities Wales – Newsletter December 2023 Click here to read the newsletter: response.gv-c.com/Mail/View/108191?a=377E1973E7A42B9C788B0E24A4E9949B&r=0282A3A4B72D253DB05D5B4CF9997928&t= Little Steps Big Struggles Childcare in Wales – Research Report Research was conducted by Oxfam Cymru to understand the experiences of parents with childcare provision and support in Wales. The report provides a detailed analysis of gaps in childcare services in Wales and highlights the correlation between childcare and poverty. It also demonstrates the impact of childcare costs and needs on family finances and parents/guardians’ employment. The report generates constructive recommendations to achieve a better childcare system in Wales. You can access the report here: bit.ly/3G2DAbX Third 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment dates announced On 13 December, the Government announced that millions of UK households will shortly get a Cost of Living Payment of £299. This payment will be made to eligible claimants on means tested benefits between Tuesday 6 February and Thursday 22 February. This is the third of three payments over the financial year totalling up to £900. Customers will receive the payments automatically. They do not need to contact DWP or do anything to receive the payment. If a household becomes retrospectively entitled to a Cost of Living Payment or someone believes they are entitled but do not receive one, they can report this on GOV.UK from the 23 February. Children’s and baby’s clothes bank bank. Find your nearest Baby Bundle Bank – Plant Dewi. Borth Community Hub have a wide range of children’s clothes for children up to the age of 11. They also have some lovely books to put in as book bundles . If anyone would like a bundle they just need to email rachel1@borthcommunityhub.co.uk Henry Smith Charity is offering grants for Children Henry Smith Charity – holiday grants for children to support recreational trips or holidays for groups of children who experience disadvantage or who have disabilities. These must take place within the UK, and children must be aged 13 or younger. Applications are being accepted until 19 March 2024 for trips taking place between 15 January and 30 April 2024. Period Poverty in Ceredigion Ceredigion County Council in partnership with Ceredigion Youth Council aim to promote period dignity and tackle period poverty through its use of Welsh Government’s Period Dignity Grant: Period Dignity in Ceredigion – Ceredigion County Council which sows where people can find free period products. Free School Meals Free School Meals – Ceredigion County Council are available to eligible pupils who attend schools, on a full-time basis, which are under the jurisdiction of Ceredigion Education Authority. School Essentials Grant The School Essentials Grant is available to children and young people eligible for free school meals (eFSM), Looked After Children (LAC), and those who are classed as No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) in year groups Reception to Year 11. Please see the FSM page for details of the qualifying criteria, link seen at the bottom of this page. For more information: School Essentials Grant – Ceredigion County Council Head to the County Council’s website for information on Cost-of-living support : Cost of Living Support – Ceredigion County Council The next bulletin will come out on 19.01.24. We will focus on ‘Keeping warm at home’. Please send us relevant information to partnerships@ceredigion.gov.uk by 17.01.24 so that we can include it in the bulletin.

Clic – Customer Service Centres

clic@ceredigion.gov.uk Please note all enquiries to Ceridigion County Council should be directed through the Clic system in the first instance. Here they will be sorted and then forwarded to the correct department for consideration. Replies should be received within 14 days.

Ceredigion County Council

www.ceredigion.gov.uk

Ceredigion County Council Planning

https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/planning-building-control-and-sustainable-drainage-body-sab/planning-applications/

Eryl Evans – County Councilor, Llangybi ward

eryl.evans@ceredigion.llyw.cymru Tel No: 0797 770083

Elin Jones AM

elin.jones@senedd.cymru Tel No: 01970 624516

Ben Lake MP for Geredigion

ben.lake.mp@parliament.uk Tel No: 01570 940333

Links

Useful Links and Contacts

Ceredigion Poverty Bulletin –

Costs for Families

Clic – Customer Service Centres

Ceredigion County Council

Ceredigion County Council Planning

Eryl Evans – County Councilor, Llangybi ward

Elin Jones AM

Ben Lake MP for Geredigion

Cellan WI – Facebook

Llanfair WI – Facebook

Neuadd Cellan Millennium – Facebook

Cyngor Cymuned Llanfair Clydogau & Cellan Community Council – Facebook