Broadland community groups can bid for up to £500 for warm spaces and hampers until 30 October. Last winter 12 groups shared £5,118, down from £12,851.
Community groups in Broadland can now apply for this winter’s Winter Pressures Grant. The money pays for warm spaces, hot food, hampers and warm clothing for people struggling with the cost of living. Each grant is up to £500, and bids close at midnight on Friday 30 October (South Norfolk and Broadland councils, Winter Pressures Grant).
This year the council is not paying out first come, first served. It will look at every bid together in the first week of November, and announce the results by 5pm on 6 November. A group that sends its form early gains nothing, and one that misses the deadline is rejected.
Who can apply, and for what
Community groups, faith organisations, community interest companies and charitable organisations can apply. So can parish and town councils and trusts. The one hard condition is a bank account the grant can be paid into. Bids that promote a religious or political purpose are not eligible.
The council lists the kind of spending it wants to fund:
- free or cheap warm food and drinks
- hats, scarves and blankets to hand out
- Christmas food hampers and gifts
- baby provisions and toiletries for families in need
- new activities that bring people together
It will favour spending that goes straight to residents over bills such as heating a hall. A warm space must open for at least one session of four hours or more a month.
Last winter’s grants, and where they went
The council publishes every grant it makes. Last winter, 2025-26, 12 Broadland groups shared £5,118 (Broadland spend, 2025-26).
| Place | Group | What it paid for | Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aylsham | The Aylsham Community Trust | warm stocking fillers for young people | £500 |
| Aylsham | Aylsham Care Trust | a festive afternoon tea | £500 |
| Aylsham | Aylsham Methodist Church | food for the warm space | £350 |
| Aylsham | Aylsham Town Council | draught excluders and a free café | £300 |
| Blofield | St Andrew and St Peter Church | warm spaces and hampers | £500 |
| Brundall | Yare Valley Churches | free hot drinks at the warm space | £380 |
| Brundall | Brundall Memorial Hall | the community café | £288 |
| Lingwood | Lingwood and Burlingham Parish Council | blankets, hats, gloves, flasks and hot water bottles | £300 |
| Old Catton | Old Catton Parish Council | a monthly lunch club | £500 |
| Rackheath | Social Moments Enterprise | food, children’s activities and collecting donations | £500 |
| Reepham | The Bircham Centre | a community coffee morning | £500 |
| Salhouse | 1st Salhouse Scout Group | Christmas hampers | £500 |
Four of the twelve grants went to Aylsham groups. None went to Sprowston, Thorpe St Andrew, Taverham or Hellesdon, which are among the district’s biggest places. Hellesdon Parish Council and the Taverham and Drayton foodbank did receive grants the winter before.
The pot paid out 60% less than two years ago
Three winters of spending tables show a clear fall. In 2023-24, Broadland’s twelve grants came to £12,851.47, and five of them were for £1,500 (Broadland spend, 2023-24). In 2024-25 the twelve came to £5,586.25, with none above £500 (Broadland spend, 2024-25). Last winter it was £5,118.
These are the amounts paid, not the budget set aside. The council’s page does not say how much is available this winter. It says only that funds are “limited”, and that it may turn down an eligible bid if a town or parish already has enough provision.
What it means for you
If you run a group, the form is a Word document on the council’s grant page. Send it with a copy of a paying-in slip or the header of a bank statement, or it will not be accepted. Several groups in one parish can bid, but the council expects them to coordinate so they are not running the same thing on the same day. If you win, you will need to send monthly figures for how many residents use what you run. The Communities Team takes questions on 01603 430611 or communities@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk.
If you need help this winter, the list above is a fair guide to where warm spaces, lunch clubs and hampers ran last year. Check with each group, because last year’s grant is no promise of the same this year.
For the rest of the district’s winter dates, see Broadland Christmas bin collections and Broadland recycling centre opening times.
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