Since 1989 we've been committed to providing essential services to Gloucester, Barrington, Stroud and surrounds. We provide a safety net to members of our community who may be doing it tough right now, through help with bills, donated food and referrals to partnering services.
If you are having difficulty paying your gas or electricity bill due to a short-term crisis such as B.W.N.G. can provide assistance through the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) scheme.
This NSW Government Scheme provides vouchers to be used to pay a portion of your home electricity or gas bills if you are experiencing a crisis or temporary hardship due to an emergency situation such as a medical bill, an unusually high energy bill or loss of income.
We can also help with Telstra Bills through the Telstra Bill Assistance Program.
To access these programmes you will need to meet certain criteria, and will need to have your circumstances assessed in an appointment with BWNG's Safety Net Officer. Assessment are available 10am - 2pm Tuesday and Thursday by appointment. Please call our team to book a time.
Our donated food pantry is available to everyone in the community from 9am - 4pm Monday to Friday, and is based at our office, at 88 King Street Gloucester NSW 2422.
We are grateful to the local businesses and organisations that donate to our pantry. Please take what you need, or give what you can.
If you are finding it difficult to make ends meet we can also give assistance with food, or help to reach out of area medical appointments.
Please note, for food, fuel or chemist vouchers you must have an assessment of your circumstances by BWNG's Safety Net Officer. Assessment are available 10am - 2pm Tuesday and Thursday by appointment. Please call our team to book a time.
We find that most people who access our Safety Net Programme only need a bit of help in response to an unexpected situation such as a fine, a change to living circumstances or loss of income due to COVID-19. Some people may need additional support to get through their rough patch. Either way, our team can also connect you with other services or agencies that can help you move forward. This is called a referral.
A few of the services that we can connect you to are:
Helping to ease the cost of living
The NSW Government has temporarily increased the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) maximum transaction limit from 1 July 2023.
The aim is to support customers impacted by the upward pressure on energy prices that are expected to flow through to households in the coming months to stay connected to an essential service.
The Safety Net Programme operates Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am - 2pm by appointment.
We understand getting in touch can be difficult if you have no phone credit, or are having trouble with bills. If you would like us to call you, please provide your contact details here.
We take confidentiality seriously. Any details you provide through this form will be sent directly to our Safety Net Coordinator, and will not be shared with anyone else.
We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land from the Worimi and Biripi Country
and pay our respects to Elders past, present & future.
(Artwork: 'Home' by a team of local Indigenous Artists)
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