Inspiring change together

Are you missing out on benefits that you are entitled to? Try out the Council’s benefits calculator which can tell you if you’re potentially entitled to claim extra money. There are more than 80 different welfare benefits available to support people in different circumstances and situations.

Before using the calculator, you’ll need accurate information about your:

• savings
• income, including your partner’s (from payslips, for example)
• existing benefits and pensions (including anyone living with you)
• outgoings (such as rent, mortgage, childcare payments)
• Council Tax bill.

By answering a few simple questions, you will quickly find out if you’re eligible for any benefits. Your answers are provided anonymously.

The calculator also provides useful information in relation to your answers e.g. if you say you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, you will be asked who your supplier is. The calculator will then provide you with information relevant to that supplier so that you’re able to consider social tariffs that are available. Social tariffs are designed to help low-income households pay for their energy bills.

Benefits calculator

The government’s Household Support Fund is there to support households in the most need, especially with energy costs, food, water bills and other related essential items.

The current round of funding is open until 31 March 2025 and is available to a broad range of low-income households across the borough, including families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people.

Those eligible for support as pensioners and carers will be contacted directly by letter to advise how to claim the support with all letters now issued. If you do not fall into one of these categories and haven’t already received support through the Household Support Fund since October 2024, we are now accepting further applications for remaining funding from our discretionary scheme.

The discretionary scheme is available for a payment of £100 per household but is only open to households which have an active claim for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. Please read our website for more information on how to apply and the information you will need.
https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/cost-of-living/household-support-fund/energy-and-food-cost-support

Additional support and advice is available for anyone who is struggling to pay their bills, requires debt advice or who’s health has been affected by the rising cost of living.
http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/cost-of-living

Everyone at some point is likely to need to get in touch with the Council, whether that’s to report an issue, ask for help, pay for something such as Council Tax or apply for something such as planning permission, benefits or licences.

To find out what people’s experiences have been like when interacting with the Council whether that’s online, by telephone or face to face we have launched an online survey. The survey is also aimed at those people who haven’t yet been in contact with the Council but have a view of what they’d expect from a good customer experience.

Feedback from the survey will be used to develop and deliver a new customer vision and strategy, that meets the needs of all residents, communities, businesses and people that access our services, and puts the customer at the heart of everything the Council does.

Changes to the customer offer have already begun but it’s vital to continue to improve by listening to those people who live, work and study in the borough.

The Council wants each and every customer of Cheshire West to have a positive experience when interacting with the Council whatever that person’s reason for making contact.

The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete and is open for feedback until Friday, 28 February.

If you are a resident of the borough and have friends and family who are, please share and complete the survey.

For anyone who is unable to complete the online survey, paper copies are available in libraries and Resident Assistance Points.

Find your nearest library

Location of your nearest Resident Assistance Point

Child Benefit

Did you know you can claim your Child Benefit online or via the HMRC app? More than one million parents have claimed in this way since the new digital service was launched earlier this year.

Child Benefit is worth £1,331 a year for the first child and £881 a year for each additional child. It can be claimed just 48 hours after registering a baby’s birth and parents typically receive their first payment within three working days. Claims can be backdated by up to 12 weeks, so the sooner families claim, the better. Child Benefit is typically paid every four weeks.

Downloading the free HMRC app makes managing claims even easier too. Families can use the app to track payments and update their details on the go – from changing their address or bank details, to seeing when their next payment is landing.

To make a claim online, visit: Child Benefit: Make a claim - GOV.UK or via the HMRC app, visit: Download the HMRC app - GOV.UK

Healthy Start supports families in need

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. Your benefit will be added onto your card every four weeks.

You can use your card to buy:

• plain liquid cow’s milk
• fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
• fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
• infant formula milk based on cow’s milk

You can also use your card to collect:

• Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old

To find out about applying for Healthy Start, visit: Applying for Healthy Start – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)

or how you can use Healthy Start, visit Using Healthy Start – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)

Christmas and New Year can be a joyful exciting time. However, it can also be difficult, straining us mentally, emotionally, physically and financially.

It's okay not to be okay during the festive season and there are many services that can offer free help and support. All the services below can be contacted free of charge.

If you or someone you know is in need of help for a mental health crisis or emergency, you can go to NHS 111 online or call 111 and select the mental health option.

Are you looking to get on track with your finances in 2025? With the cost-of-living crisis in full effect, now more than ever it is important to have a little something to fall back on. We encourage savings of £1 a week to help with an unexpected bill that may occur or to start saving little and often.

The Peoples’ Community Bank

Did you know saving with your credit union helps your community? The more money saved with the credit union means that we can help more people who may need to borrow money to get them through difficult times. All money saved with the credit union is protected and you have access to your money at any time.

What is a credit union?

A credit union is a financial co-operative which provides savings, loans and a range of services to its members. A credit union is owned and controlled by the members. Credit unions are not-for-profit organisations, and any surplus generated at the financial year end is put back into the running costs of the credit union or paid as a dividend to its members. As we are not owned by external shareholders the emphasis is always on providing the best service to our members and not maximising profits. The credit union is accessible to those within our common bond. A common bond is the area each credit union serves and their criteria. West Cheshire Credit Union’s common bond is for those who live, work or study within Cheshire West, Cheshire East and Flintshire. If you fall within this, you can apply and become a member.

Credit union myths and facts

There are many ‘myths’ surrounding credit unions, here are some of the examples and correct facts:

• Credit Unions are only accessible for those claiming benefits – this is incorrect, credit unions are for everyone of all walks of life.

• We are regulated and a safe secure way to save and borrow.

• Owned by members, and members are encouraged to give feedback.

• Directors are all volunteers, and do not take any renumeration.

• Savings stay within the local community and is managed to provide accessibility to affordable loans.

We have a range of saving products available these are:

• Saver Account – our standard account
• Junior Savers Account – pays a competitive 5% interest
• Payroll Scheme – saving direct from your salary

If you are interested in saving with us, please get in touch, you can become a member of West Cheshire Credit Union by completing our online form or alternatively you can call into one of our branches and speak to someone face to face.

https://wccu.co.uk/

Head Office – 12-16 Brookdale Place, Chester, CH1 3DY (opposite the bus station).

Ellesmere Port - The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA. (Thursdays only).

Bookings are now open for the Christmas Holiday Activities and Food Programme

Get ready for festive fun with 34 FREE activity clubs across the borough.

As Christmas approaches, so does the excitement for the return of the Christmas Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) funded by the Department for Education. Edsential have been working alongside Cheshire West and Chester Council to bring families together, with a whole host of festive activity clubs available that are designed to keep children and young people engaged and active this Christmas.

With a network of 34 clubs spread across the borough, the HAF programme is set to deliver an unforgettable experience for young people aged 5 to 16 years old in receipt of benefit related free school meals. This year, new clubs will be joining the programme, offering even more festive activities. From winter sports like ice skating and indoor football to holiday-themed arts and crafts, baking and cooking classes, nature bushcraft, campfires, and day trips all with a Christmas twist—this season promises something for every taste and interest. For older children, additional activities such as holiday wellness sessions, hair, and beauty workshops will be available. And the best part? Free, nutritious meals will be served throughout the programme, ensuring that children stay energised and nourished during the Christmas break.

The Summer HAF initiative saw over 4000 children and young people in Cheshire West and Chester benefitting from enriching activities and healthy meals provided. Those who took part were thrilled, with many parents praising the clubs’ ‘lovely staff’ and their ability to be ‘brilliant with kids.’ Parents were delighted that their children were entertained and well-fed during the holidays, and this Christmas is set to be even more special.

Cllr Adam Langan, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Cheshire West and Chester, said: “What a wonderful programme we have for this Christmas. So many children from all backgrounds, from all across the borough will get to enjoy a magical time. The activities for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) will have an amazing impact on children and families. I hope the children enjoy the pantos, food hampers and all of the activities the teams have planned.”

Heather Lewis, the Programme Manager for HAF, expressed her excitement, stating,

“We have an exciting lineup of holiday activities and food clubs this Christmas for children and young people across Cheshire West. Our mission is to create a safe, festive, and inclusive environment where they can have fun, learn new skills, and form lasting friendships. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of an initiative that helps young people thrive.”

Edsential urges all parents and carers to check if their child is eligible for free school meals, as it could unlock a host of benefits. Eligible children not only gain access to the diverse programme of Christmas activities but also delicious and nutritious free lunches throughout the school term.

Ready for your child to dive into a Christmas of excitement? Book your child's spot at one of the Christmas holiday activity clubs or check eligibility at: www.edsential.com/HAF.

A draft of the Council's Climate Emergency Response Plan for 2025 - 2030 is available to view following an initial co-production exercise earlier this year.

The Council is asking people in west Cheshire to review the plan and provide feedback on the outcomes and actions included, through an online consultation.

You can have your say on all sections of the plan or choose to answer questions and provide feedback on one of the six key theme areas:

• Business and industry
• Transport
• Housing
• Energy
• Land use and adaptation
• Waste and the circular economy

Paper copies of the consultation are available on request and the Council's Climate Change team are hosting a series of drop-in sessions, where you can talk to them about the proposed plan and provide feedback.

View the consultation and have your say

People living in Cheshire West and Chester are being urged to have a go at balancing the Council’s budget, by using an online budget simulator tool.

The simulator is part of the Council’s annual budget consultation, Join the Budget Conversation, which includes spending and budget proposals reflecting local people’s priorities and aligns with its recent Borough Plan.

The consultation gives an overview of the increasing need for Council services.

Cabinet Member for Legal and Finance, Councillor Carol Gahan, said:

“Local public services are under significant and immediate financial pressure. There are no easy solutions. Looking after children and adults who need to use care services and ensuring all children have the best start in life, is an investment in the borough’s future, as well as a moral and legal duty, and takes up around two thirds of the Council’s expenditure budget. Not only do we want to undertake these duties, but moreover, we are legally required to do so. Many more children with complex needs are requiring high-cost placements. There are currently 13 placements each costing over £500,000 a year, which accounts for 34% of the overall spend supporting children in care.

“The Council spends £977 million each year on services which benefit local people every day. For example, we undertake refuse, recycling, food and garden waste collection. We clean and maintain roads and public open spaces. We are proud that our museums, libraries, leisure centres and swimming pools have thrived during these difficult times, which has sadly, not been the case for many other local authority areas. The bulk of our budget funds services that many people may not be aware of, if they, their family or friends are not directly impacted. These are vital to many people in our communities who need extra help and support. Please have a go at balancing the budget for yourself and take part in the survey. Local people’s feedback on our approach and latest thinking is very important.”

There are several ways you can get involved and have your say.

• Visit our Join the Budget Consultation page to complete a survey and have a go at balancing the budget by taking part in the budget simulator. Join the budget conversation | Participate Now

• You can write to: Join the Budget Conversation, Insight and Intelligence, Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA
  Email: councilbudget@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk to share your views
  Telephone 0300 123 8123, to speak to the Council’s Contact Centre, quoting ‘Join the Budget Conversation’.

• Paper copies of the consultation will be available in all public libraries and on request using the contact details above. Alternative formats are also available on request using the contact details above.

This consultation will close on Sunday, 1 December. The results will be published on the Council’s website in January 2025, so that people who took part can see how their views have influenced decisions.

Specific budget proposals will be voted on at a full Council meeting, scheduled for 20 February 2025.

If you’re still looking for something fun to do with the family this half term, there’s lots going on across Cheshire West and Chester.

To make it easier to access what you’re looking for there’s a page on the Council’s website packed full of activities, events and exhibitions for children and young people of all ages. From craft activities through to sports camps and a whole host of spooky events, including a Haunted House Workshop and Frankenstein’s Museum, there’s something to keep everyone entertained.

Most of the events listed are free or low-cost, too.

We hope you have a great half term.

School holiday activities