Inspiring change together

Challenge Poverty Week runs from 13–19 October. It’s a chance for us all to shine a light on the real challenges people face and to celebrate the incredible work already happening across our communities.

We’re encouraging everyone to Do One Thing to take a simple step towards improving your financial wellbeing. Whether it’s having a chat with family, seeking advice, or reviewing your budget. Small actions can lead to big changes.

Below are a few suggestions to get you started, remember you only need to do one.

• Check your benefits – You may not be receiving all the benefits you’re entitled to. Use the benefits calculator to check what you are entitled to. https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/other-benefits-and-grants
  
  
• Support for families – check if you’re eligible for free school meals, healthy start and other support for families by visiting the cost of living page.
  https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/cost-of-living
  
  
• Manage your energy costs – If you’re worried about energy bills there is help available, contact your supplier or visit our home energy page.https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/energy/home-energy
  
  
• Skills and employment – Thinking about work or training? The skills and employment team can help with mentoring, adult learning and overcoming barriers to work. Check the courses and information on their hubs below and call in and have a chat.
  https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/education-and-learning/further-and-higher-education/skills-and-employment

If you’re part of an organisation that supports people in your community, tell us how you're making a difference. Share your work, your impact, and how you're listening to those with lived experience. Use the hashtags #ChallengePoverty and tag @go_CheshireWest so we can amplify your voice.

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

Pensioner scheme – deadline for registering 17 October 2025

We wrote to all eligible customers during June and July to invite a claim to receive a payment of £50. Not all eligible pensioners have registered their bank details with us to enable this payment to be issued so we have written again as a reminder of this scheme and invite a claim by the deadline of 17 October 2025.

If you were invited to claim but have not yet done so, we would encourage you to register your bank details with us to receive the support and you will also automatically be considered for future similar schemes.

More information can be found at:

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/cost-of-living/household-support-fund/pensioner-low-income-households

Discretionary scheme

Our discretionary scheme which gives £100 to low-income households remains open for applications for those in need of support. This discretionary scheme is only open to households which have an active claim for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction and have not already received a payment under the scheme since May 2025.

More information including how to apply can be found at :

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/cost-of-living/household-support-fund/energy-and-food-cost-support

Winter pensioner scheme – due to open 10 November 2025

In November, we will be opening our winter pensioner scheme. If you are eligible and have provided your bank details during the winter pensioner scheme last year, or during the summer pensioner scheme mentioned above, you’ll automatically be considered for this winter scheme too, with no need to apply again.

For all other eligible low-income pensioners who are receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, we will contact you direct to advise how to claim this additional support.

More information can be found at:

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/cost-of-living/household-support-fund/pensioner-low-income-households

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

Eligible working parents in Cheshire West and Chester could receive up to 30 hours of funded childcare each week during term time for children aged 9 months to school age. This change is part of the government's expanded Childcare Choices programme and is designed to help families with the cost of living, support working parents, and give children the best start in life.

This is a fantastic opportunity for local families to access funded childcare from as early as nine months old. The cost of living can be challenging, and this support can make a real difference to parents balancing work and family life. From the end of parental leave to the start of primary school, an average working parent could save up to £7,500 per year – money that stays in your pocket for your family's needs.

Share this information with friends, family members, neighbours, and community groups. Many families still don’t realise they’re eligible, especially those with younger children or returning to work.

For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for funded childcare, visit:

The Best Start in Life parent hub

UKHSA urges vaccination against respiratory viruses ahead of winter

The UK Health Security Agency urges people to book their vaccinations against flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as cases are starting to increase ahead of the winter months.

UKHSA urges vaccination against respiratory viruses ahead of winter - GOV.UK

To ensure people are protected ahead of the peak respiratory illness season, UKHSA is highlighting the importance of taking up the free NHS offer as soon as you are invited for vaccination. Pregnant women and millions of children have already been able to get vaccinated, with appointments for most eligible groups available from 1 October.

For the first time this year, in addition to other eligible groups, toddlers can also get their flu vaccination, which is given as a nasal spray, at community pharmacies.

To book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, visit the National Booking Service:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/vaccination-and-booking-services/book-covid-19-vaccination/

Free chickenpox vaccination to be offered for first time to children in England from January

Recently the government announced that starting next January, young children in England will get a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

From January next year, GP practises will offer eligible children a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) – the clinical term for chickenpox – as part of the routine infant vaccination schedule.

Expected to be given to around half a million children each year across England, the vaccination will be given to eligible children during routine GP appointments as part of the infant vaccination schedule.

Eligibility will be based on how old a child is when the programme starts in January 2026. Parents will be provided with more information nearer the time.

For more information, visit:
Free chickenpox vaccination offered for first time to children - GOV.UK

The UKHSA and NHS England are calling on parents to check their child’s vaccine records and catch up on any missed vaccinations with their GP practice.

Read more, at:
Almost 1 in 5 children starting primary school are not fully protected against several serious diseases - GOV.UK

To celebrate Get Online Week from 20 to 26 October, Connecting Cheshire are working with local community organisations to run free digital drop-in events in Frodsham and Winsford.

Get Online Week is a national campaign run by Good Things Foundation, and it’s all about helping people feel more confident using the internet. It’s been going since 2007 and every year thousands of people across the UK take part.

With everything from banking to benefits now online, not having access or the skills to get online can make life much harder.

What to expect at the drop-ins

• Help getting started with devices and Wi-Fi
• Learn a new digital skill
• Advice on staying safe online

Event times and locations

Get Online Winsford
Date: 21 October 2025
Time: 10.30am – 1.30pm
Location: Winsford Youth and Community Forum, Nixon Drive, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 2HG

Get Online Frodsham
Date: 23 October 2025
Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm
Location: St Laurence’s Parish Hall, Church Street, Frodsham, WA6 6PN

For more digital information and for details about upcoming events, visit:

Digital Inclusion Events - Digital Cheshire

Getting around using public transport can not only save you money but is good for the environment too. Check out the deals on offer across our borough and beyond.

Avanti West Coast’s Superfare ticket extended to Chester

The Superfare ticket offers low-cost journeys to and from London.

The new fare costing £21 for a single journey, is available on direct Avanti West Coast trains between the two cities. It can be purchased at least 7 days in advance and up to 56 days before travel.

The ticket enables customers to book a journey for a specific date at a cheaper fare with the choice of a morning, afternoon, or evening slot.

Find out more

itravel now departing on Saturdays

itravel on-demand rural bus service covers a wide area including Helsby, Frodsham, Delamere and Acton Bridge, as well as some other villages where no commercial services are available.

It is simple, easy and cost effective to use. Just register to use the service, book your journey and you’re off. The many simple, convenient and varied ways of booking make it easier to connect you to people and places.

Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm (excluding Bank Holidays), and Saturdays between 9am and 5pm. You can book online, using the mobile phone app (available to download from the App Store or Google Play, or by telephone – 0330 678 1545.

Booking details

Chester Park and Ride

Travelling into Chester for work or leisure? Park and Ride operates from Upton, Boughton Heath and Wrexham Road. Free parking, with discounts for groups now available. Buses operate three separate circular routes direct into the city, then back to your car park.

PR1 – Wrexham Road Park and Ride: Grosvenor Road (for Racecourse and Law Courts) – Bus Interchange – Foregate Street stop AA (for shops and visitor attractions) – Pepper Street (for the River Dee and Boat Trips) – Grosvenor Road - Wrexham Road Park & Ride

PR2 – Boughton Heath Park and Ride: Boughton Waitrose (for Business Quarter) - The Bars – Bus Interchange – Foregate Street stop AA (for shops and visitor attractions) – Boughton Waitrose - Boughton Heath Park & Ride

PR3 – Upton (Zoo) Park and Ride: Liverpool Road (Countess Hospital) – Liverpool Road Abbotts Grange (for university) – Bus Interchange – Foregate Street stop BB (for shops and visitor attractions) – Liverpool Road Abbotts Grange – Liverpool Road (Countess Hospital) - Upton (Zoo) Park & Ride

Find out more

Get around for £3 until 2027

Single bus fares to be capped at £3 until March 2027, ensuring services remain affordable and supporting travel in rural areas and towns.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has worked with operators to encourage as many as possible to participate, although some services will not be eligible.

Journeys starting in Wales are not eligible for the scheme, however local concessions have been introduced by some operators.

Find our more

The Council is working with cycle trainers Bikeright to offer residents access to adult and family cycle training across the borough. The training will be tailored to suit your needs, whether you are a complete beginner or want to learn some more advance skills on your bike. Courses are available on a one-to-one basis with an instructor at a time and location that suits you. For family training, up to a maximum of six people can receive the training within your group.

Find out more and sign up

Tax-Free Childcare to help parents to save on their childcare bills

With Tax-Free Childcare, families arranging childcare for the start and end of the school day can get financial support of up to £2,000 a year per child, or £4,000 if their child is disabled, towards the cost. Parents can use the scheme to pay for childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 if the child has a disability.

For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government tops it by £2 which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every three months to use to pay for their childcare costs.

Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use whenever it’s needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.  

For more information about Tax-Free Childcare and how to register visit GOV.UK.

Reminder to extend Child Benefit for your teen

Parents of 16 to 19 year olds, who are staying in education or training, can extend their Child Benefit claim to guarantee payments in September.

Child Benefit will automatically stop on 31 August on or after a child’s 16^th birthday if it’s not extended.

You can apply to extend Child Benefit quickly and easily via the HMRC app or online on the Gov.UK website. You need to do this by 31 August

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19

Child Benefit is currently worth £26.05 per week - or £1,354.60 a year - for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week - or £897 a year - for each additional child. More than 870,000 parents extended their Child Benefit claim for their teen last year with the majority confirming online or via the HMRC app in minutes.

Child Benefit can continue to be paid for young people who are studying full time in non-advanced education as well as unpaid approved training courses. Visit GOV.UK to check full eligibility.

The Pensions Act 2014 set out the timescale for the increase in State Pension age from 66 years old to 67 years old and will first affect those born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961.

Anyone born between these dates should check their State Pension age to find out the earliest point at which they’ll be eligible for their State Pension.

It’s important for everyone to check their State Pension age. You can do this by using the State Pension age calculator on GOV.UK State Pension age calculator

The HAF Programme is funded nationally by the Department for Education and supports local organisations to provide free holiday provision to school aged children and young people from reception to year 11 (inclusive) on benefits-related free school meals (FSM) - helping them to access healthy food, take part in fun activities and meet new friends in a safe and fun environment.

There are also paid places available with some providers for those who do not meet the criteria, so that other children and young people can join in the fun too.

Full information is available on the dedicated Cheshire West and Chester pages of the HAF website.
Summer Holiday Activities and Food

Edsential Community Interest Company is working with several organisations, including schools, community, voluntary and faith sector organisations to organise 65 summer holiday activity clubs throughout the borough.

Each eligible child will be provided with a good quality nutritious meal, plus, they can look forward to a wide range of activities designed to be engaging and fun. From sports such as football, dodgeball and rounders to den building, baking, cooking classes and forest school activities.

Brio Leisure is offering a variety of activities for young people. Sports camps will be held at Neston Recreation Centre, catering for 4 to 12-year-olds. Additionally, fun and floats and craft sessions are available for young people aged 5 to 18 years with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Winsford Lifestyle Centre, and Northwich Memorial Court. For further details or enquiries, please email: info@brioleisure.org.

Young People Service will deliver a Future Focus summer scheme. The programme is aimed at young people aged 16-19 who are currently not in employment, education or training, or leaving Year 11 this summer and have not yet secured a post 16 placement for September. The range of activities will include confidence building and employment skills, team building and emotional and financial wellbeing.

Youth Zone for 11–16-year-olds (up to 25 for our SEND children and young people) will provide a summer programme including activity day trips, indoor and outdoor sports sessions, team building skills, Breakout Rooms and much more. For more information, email the Youth Service:
YoungPeoplesService@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

For more information about SEND specific activities, check out our website or if you have any queries, email: AimingHighForDisabledChildren@cheshirewest.gov.uk

To check if your child is eligible for Free School Meals, visit our website:
Free school meals | Cheshire West and Chester Council

If you have any questions about the HAF programme , please email:
HAF@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

A comprehensive list of other, non-HAF related, summer holiday activities across the borough is available on the Council’s website:
School holiday activities | Cheshire West and Chester Council