Food and Fuel Poverty
Food Poverty is when an individual or household has the inability to afford, or to have access to, food to make up a healthy diet. Foodbanks are organisations who distribute food to people who have difficulty purchasing food.
There are three main food banks in Ards and North Down that offer emergency support with food during a crisis, alongside additional support. If you need help with food, you can contact any of the Community Networks or Community Advice Ards and North Down(formerly Citizen’s Advice) who will check your eligibility and can provide a voucher than can be used in the Food Banks.
Fuel Poverty - A household is in fuel poverty if, to maintain an acceptable level of temperature throughout the home, the occupants would have to spend more than 10% of their income on all household fuel use. The three factors which impact on fuel poverty are income, the cost of energy and the domestic energy efficiency of the home.