Helping thousands of people stay well through winter

“I didn’t realise how much I needed this. It’s given me somewhere to go, people to talk to, and support when things get difficult.” 

That’s what David said after attending Caring Together in Woodhouse and Little London’s ‘Soup and a Roll’ sessions last winter. The project was one of 20 funded through Stay Well this Winter Grants – our partnership with Leeds City Council – in 2025. 

The grants meant Leeds community organisations could provide extra support to help local people over the winter months. They worked with people most at risk of becoming unwell in the colder season. That included older people, disabled people, refugees and asylum seekers, people experiencing homelessness and people living in poverty. 

As well as offering warm meals and practical items, the organisations provided tailored support and referrals to help people with their individual needs. That included help with benefits, energy advice, contacting utility companies and so much more. And the activities helped people’s mental wellbeing, too. 

The difference for people like David was significant. 

When David first went to ‘Soup and a Roll’, he was struggling with the rising cost of living and often skipped meals to save money. Attending the sessions each week meant he could get a hot, nutritious meal, and speak with the staff. They provided informal advice and guidance so he could access local services and get help with living costs, to fare better through the winter. He also started volunteering informally, helping to set up the tables and welcome new attendees. 

Since the seasonal sessions ended, David has continued to attend other activities at Caring Together in Woodhouse and Little London. As a result, he’s maintained the social connections he built, and continues to feel involved in the community. 

David is just one of the 3,683 people supported last year, thanks to Stay Well this Winter Grants. 

Through their funded activities, the organisations helped 1,228 people to improve their mental health and wellbeing and 924 to people feel less lonely. 1,205 people say their physical health and wellbeing was better, too. 

And with the increased cost of living, support like this has never been more needed. 

Flourishing Families Leeds said “The depth of poverty experienced by families is sadly getting worse and the impact of our support was therefore even greater than in previous years. We had numerous parents and carers telling us that our support literally meant that they would be able to feed their children every day over the holidays.” 

With strain on people’s finances expected to continue, we’re proud to have worked with Leeds City Council to run another round of Stay Well this Winter Grants this year. Applications have closed, and we look forward to sharing information about the funded projects in the autumn.