A social enterprise, independent of the government and the local authority, supporting Ukrainian guests and their hosts in the New Forest
GUESTS
WhatsApp group for Ukrainian guests in New Forest
Free Bus Passes
Ukrainian guests are eligible for free bus passes for 12 weeks from the date of issue.
Apply here and email the completed form to:
Food banks and Fare Share
Food banks
Food banks provide free food to those who really need it. There are four locally.
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New Forest Basics Bank - Canon Street East Car Park, Lymington, SO41 9BR
Keen to help, the Basics Bank in Lymington have decided that no referrals are needed for the first three months. After guests have been here 3 months they will need a referral from Citizens Advice each time they need to use the food bank. Contact Citizens Advice on 0808 278 7860 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
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Waterside Food Bank, Blackfield
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Lyndhurst Food Bank
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Totton Basics bank, Testwood Baptist Church, Totton.
Open Monday-Friday 10am-12noon
Please visit the food banks listed above the first time you want to use them and they will register you.
Fareshare mobile larder
This is a membership scheme designed to help people make money by reducing food bills.
The bag will be prepared in advance and includes a variety of products worth an average of 10 to 15 pounds (depending on the size of the household). A typical package may include some of the following: pasta, rice, coffee, tea bags, canned meat, canned fish, canned desserts, soups.
The Food Larder van is in the following places, weekly on the same day and times, shown on the map below. Just come at the right time and someone will help you become a member.
Marchwood Village Hall
Ashley Hub, Baptist Church, New Milton
Nedderman Centre, New Milton
St Anne's Community Centre, Hythe
Testwood Baptist Church, Totton
St Mark's Community Hall, Pennington
Queen Elizabeth Recreation Centre, Blackfield
St George's Hall, Calshot
Leisure Centre, Ringwood
Church of England Primary school, Bransgore
Costs
Membership depends on the size of the household.
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1 person £ 2.50 per week - 10 products per week, as well as fruits and vegetables
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2 people 3.50 pounds per week - 15 products, as well as fruits and vegetables
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4 people £ 5.00 per week - 25 products, as well as fruits and vegetables
Free SIM cards
Vodafone offers Ukrainian guests free SIM cards with 20 GB of data per month, as well as free calls and text messages.
You can apply online through Refugease.
Alternatively, you can collect one in person at St Barbe Museum or the Basics food bank in Lymington. Please take your passport or Biometric Residence Permit as proof of your eligibility.
Free New Forest Leisure Centre Membership
Freedom leisure (in partnership with NFDC) operate 5 leisure centres in Applemore, Lymington, New Milton, Totton and Ringwood. They are offering 3 months free membership (allowing use of the swimming pool, Gym and classes) for Ukrainian guests.
To apply please complete this form including your hosts details and take it along to your nearest leisure centre (shown on map above).
English Lessons
NFHU Classes
We offer free English lessons at the Hythe, Totton, Lymington and New Milton libraries and at St Barbe Museum. 17 teachers have volunteered their time for these classes.
If you want to register please fill out the form below if you want to attend these classes.
We will then invite you to a testing session so that you are put in the right class for your English language ability. Once we have graded you we will invite you to an appropriate class.
These classes are not drop in sessions. We kindly ask you to come to English lessons only on the day and time specified in your invitation letter. Attending lessons without this invitation is not welcome.
We need to control the number of participants in each class so that classes are effective and because as we are responsible for each student and the teachers.
Free Beaulieu Pass
The Beaulieu Estate extends a kind invitation to guests to apply for a free pass. These give access to Beaulieu grounds and Bucklers Hard Museum.
Please complete this form and take it with you to the Estate Office, John Montagu building, SO42 7ZN. The form details what is included and other conditions. A clear head and shoulders photo will be needed (can be any size).