If you are worried about money, food, or keeping warm over Christmas and New Year, you are not on your own. This page brings together food support, cost-of-living advice, family activities, and warm spaces that are available during the festive period.
Opening times often change over the holidays. We’ve included Christmas and New Year opening hours where we could find them, but always check the service link before you travel.
Bristol City Council cost of living support
Use Bristol City Council’s cost of living support page as a starting point if you live in Bristol. It pulls together advice and local services, including support with food, benefits, and wellbeing.
We Are Bristol helpline (Bristol)
Call the free We Are Bristol helpline for information and advice about the cost of living, including benefits, food support, mental health and wellbeing, and finding a Welcoming Space near you.
Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. Call free on 0800 694 0184.
Citizen Service Point (Bristol)
If you need face-to-face support, visit the Citizen Service Point. Staff can help with things like the Local Crisis Prevention Fund, homelessness triage by phone, and other urgent problems. You can also use their self-serve computers.
Address: 100 Temple Street, Bristol, BS1 6AG.
“Worrying about money?” leaflet (Bristol)
If you want a single document you can save or print, download the Bristol “Worrying about money?” leaflet. It includes advice and a list of local organisations you can contact for support.
Welcoming Spaces map (Bristol)
A Welcoming Space is a free place in your community where you can sit, warm up, and connect with others. Many spaces also offer activities and signposting to other support. Some spaces have limited opening times or focus on a specific community.
All Welcoming Spaces are wheelchair accessible and have an accessible toilet.
Winter opening hours for Welcoming Spaces (Bristol)
Over the holidays, many community spaces close or reduce their hours. Use this list to check which Welcoming Spaces stay open between 24 December 2025 and 2 January 2026.
Festive period food support list (Bristol)
If you need food support over the festive period, use Feeding Bristol’s list of services running between 22 December 2025 and 2 January 2026. It includes a mix of food parcels, low-cost food options, and places offering meals.
Your Holiday Hub (Bristol)
Your Holiday Hub offers free holiday activities and a healthy meal for children and young people in Bristol who receive benefits-related free school meals (reception to year 11). You can search for sessions near you and book online. If your child is not eligible, some providers also offer open access or paid places.
South Gloucestershire One Stop Shops
If you live in South Gloucestershire, you can visit a One Stop Shop for help with council services and cost-of-living support. They can support you with council tax, benefits, housing, homelessness, community care, grants, and more.
Locations: Kingswood (Civic Centre), Patchway (Patchway Hub), and Yate (Kennedy Way, via West Walk). Translation services are available. You can also ask to use a private room.
Warm packs (South Gloucestershire)
If high energy costs make it hard to keep your home warm, you can pick up a warm pack from South Glos One Stop Shops and children’s centres. Packs are for adults and families who struggle to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature.
Each pack includes warm items like a hat, socks, gloves, gel hand warmers, a blanket, a hot water bottle, and more. Family packs also include extra items for children.
Community welcome spaces (South Gloucestershire)
South Glos supports a network of warm community welcome spaces, often in community centres, village halls, and libraries. They are free to use and offer a friendly place to spend time. Some spaces serve hot drinks or run activities.
Community food support (South Gloucestershire)
If you live in South Gloucestershire, these local community food services offer low-cost or free food in specific areas. Opening hours often change over Christmas and New Year, so check details before you travel.
- Patchway Community Larder: Callicroft House, Rodway Road. Festive hours: Tue 23 Dec 9am–4.30pm; Wed 24 Dec 9am–1pm; closed 25–28 Dec; Mon 29–Wed 31 Dec 9am–4.30pm; closed 1–2 Jan; normal hours from Mon 5 Jan.
- Cranleigh Court Community Cupboard (Yate): Surplus fresh food from supermarkets. Open Mondays 2pm–4pm and Thursdays 10am–12pm.
- Juice CIC community larder (Cadbury Heath): Community larder at the Newton Road project. Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
- Fromeside Community Café and Pantry (Frampton Cotterell): Pay-as-you-can café and pantry at Zion Church. Open Thursdays 12pm–2.30pm.
- Coniston Community Café (Patchway): Low-cost hot meals and drinks. Open Monday to Friday, 8am–2pm.
For other food support near you, use the map below.
“Get access to food” support page (South Gloucestershire)
South Glos Council’s “Get access to food” page brings together food-related support, including financial help to buy food, community organisations, support with feeding children, school holiday activities and food, and useful links.
More local support and advice (Bristol and South Glos)
If you need support beyond emergency food, use our directory to find local organisations across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. You can filter by service type and by the people each service supports.
