Good Morning Surrey,

The Government has announced a £100 payment to help households with rising energy bills. A welcome contribution, although I suspect British Gas won't be sending a thank-you card.

But here's what I've been wondering. Will £100 really make much difference, and is the help reaching the households that need it most?

If you're eligible, it's worth checking your Council Tax band. And I'd genuinely like to know what you think. Is £100 meaningful help, or a modest contribution to a much bigger bill?

Meanwhile, Halloween has arrived, and Surrey seems determined to give every pumpkin a full social calendar.

In today’s edition…

Let's get into it...

-- Prince Khurram.

The Government has announced a £100 Household Energy Payment for eligible homes in England, starting January 2027. The scheme uses Council Tax bands A to D for the payment. Eligible Direct Debit payers should receive payments automatically. Others will be contacted by their council.

Check eligibility and read the official payment guidance

From 29 October, qualifying first-time buyers purchasing a home above £450,000 can withdraw their Lifetime ISA savings with a reduced charge. Relevant to higher-priced Surrey homes. New withdrawal charge is 20% for eligible purchases above £450,000, while previous charge was 25%. The usual 25% charge remains for other unauthorised withdrawals.

Read the updated Lifetime ISA rules

Breasts are among the most talked about and medically researched parts of the human body, yet many of us are embarrassed to discuss our breast health openly. 

Allure Perspectives, a new podcast hosted by Allure editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel, spends its first season exploring how breasts intersect with beauty, health, identity, sexuality, and culture. Episodes feature Olivia Munn on the test she says to take even if your mammogram is clear, sex educator Ericka Hart on reclaiming her body after breast cancer, and a Beverly Hills surgeon on why GLP-1s are driving a surge in breast lifts. All episodes available now.

Listen wherever you get podcasts.

Step Surrey has confirmed that the Adult Skills Fund and Skills Bootcamps have created more than 21,000 training opportunities for residents. Announced 28 October. Training and retraining options; eligibility varies.

Explore training programmes and eligibility

Surrey start-up Woven Bio is using a Dorking innovation facility supported by Surrey County Council's Economic Growth Fund to develop sustainable packaging. Work includes product development and prototyping and Five part-time jobs are planned, rather than currently available.

Read about the innovation project

Community organisations in Reigate & Banstead have until 2 November to express interest in funding for local assets.

Check eligibility and submit an expression of interest

Farnham Town Council is accepting applications for community projects, offering up to £2,500 available to eligible non-profits. Deadline 20 November for the 2027–28 period.

Check the grant criteria and application details

Halloween Hauntings | 30–31 October Info/Tickets Location: Guildford Castle, Guildford Fri noon–4.30pm; Sat 10am–3pm. Price: Adults £5, children £2.50, family £12.

Spooky Saturday | 31 October Info/Tickets Location: Oxted Free Halloween activities from 1pm–4pm. A free family outing. Price: Free.

Halloween Railway Spooktacular | 31 October–1 November Info/Tickets Location: Great Cockcrow Railway, Chertsey Spooky railway rides, 4.30–8pm. On-the-day tickets; ages 2+. Price: £7.

Witches & Wizards Week | Until 1 November Info/Tickets Location: Bocketts Farm Park, Fetcham Halloween-themed farm activities continuing through Sunday. Extras cost more. Price: Admission plus extras.

Pumpkin Picking and Halloween Activities | Until 1 November Info/Tickets Location: Hobbledown, Epsom Pumpkin activities; check daily programme. Price: Online entry from £16.50, pumpkins extra.

Fright Nights | Selected dates until 1 November Info/Tickets Location: Thorpe Park, Chertsey Halloween thrills and scare mazes, recommended for ages 13+. Mazes extra. Price: Admission from £42.

Halloween Family Disco and Crafts | 31 October Info/Tickets Location: The Horton, Epsom Dancing and crafts from 4pm–5.30pm. Price: Adult and child £14; additional adult £9, child £8.

Spooktacular Ghost Trail | Until 31 October Info/Tickets Location: Guildford Museum, Guildford Free Halloween ghost trail during museum opening hours. Saturday is the final day. Price: Free.

Relax, Restore and Revitalise Qigong | 31 October Info/Tickets Location: Harry Edwards Foundation, near Shere Qigong 10–11am; book ahead. Price: £15.

Forest Resonance | 31 October Info/Tickets Location: Sutton Place area, Abinger Hammer Forest bathing and sound healing from 10am–1.30pm. Price: Check organiser.

Sunrise Meditation and Tea | 1 November Info/Tickets Location: Hurtwood Car Park 3, Pitch Hill Meditation and tea, 6.15–7.15am. An early start. Price: Check organiser.

Autumn Colours Circular Walk | 1 November Info/Tickets Location: Hydon's Ball car park, Salt Lane, GU8 4B Moderate 15km walk, 9.45am–2.45pm; bring supplies. Price: £12.50.

The Herd | Until 31 October Info/Tickets Location: Prior's Field, Godalming Local theatre production through Saturday. Check times. Price: £12.50.

Hadestown: The Musical | 31 October Info/Tickets Location: Farnham Maltings, Farnham Screening of the stage musical at 2pm. Rated 12A, with flashing lights. Price: Adults £16, under-18s £13.

Tim Burton's Universe | 31 October Info/Tickets Location: Guildford Cathedral, Guildford Tim Burton film music, 7.30pm. Price: Reported from £15.

Halloween House Party | 31 October Info/Tickets Location: The Guildford Townhouse, Guildford Halloween party from 7pm. Check finish time. Price: £10 plus possible fees.

Ripley Bonfire | 31 October Info/Tickets Location: Ripley Village bonfire celebrations and procession. Road closures are planned. Price: Check organiser.

Halloween Fireworks | 31 October Info/Tickets Location: Pine Ridge Golf, Frimley Bonfire 6.30pm, fireworks 7.30pm. Card only. Price: Advance adults £12, children £7.

Haunted Trick-or-Treat House | 31 October Info/Tickets Location: The Squirrel Inn, Hurtmore Halloween-themed evening from 5pm–11.30pm. Price: Free.

Halloween Fireworks Spooktacular | 1 November Info/Tickets Location: Colets, Thames Ditton Evening event from 4pm–9pm, with fireworks at 6.30pm. Price: See booking page.

Vintage Fashion Fair | 31 October Location: Farnham Maltings, Farnham Vintage clothing and accessories from 10am–4pm. Price: £4, under-16s free. Check fair details

Epsom Farmers' & Artisans' Market | 1 November Location: Epsom, exact site to be confirmed Farm and artisan stalls; confirm location and hours. Details

Guildford Arts & Makers Market | 1 November Location: Guildford High Street Arts and makers market, with a High Street road closure scheduled. Details

Surrey Villages Art & Craft Fair | 1 November Location: Shere Hall, Shere Local arts and crafts, approximately 10.30am–3.30pm. Details

Location: 7–11 High Street, Godalming Open Fri–Sat noon–midnight and Sunday noon–10pm. Check menu before booking. Details

Yarrow Location: 4 Station Approach, West Byfleet Halloween set menu available Friday and Saturday. Price: £40. Details

Sea & Seeds Location: 46 High Street, Leatherhead Opened in 2026; menus online. Details

The Bell Location: Fetcham: Local pub serving food, book online. Details

The Dabbling Duck Location: Shere: Village café open 9am–5pm on winter weekends. Details

The Horsell Kitchen Location: Horsell: Saturday 9am–3pm and Sunday 9am–1pm. Kitchen closes earlier. Details

Wild About Coffee Location: Norbury Park: Rural coffee stop Thu–Sun, 9am–3pm; no car access. Details

Cazaro Lounge Location: Brightwells Yard, Farnham Food and drink; menus online. Details

Eno's Location: 49 Church Street, Weybridge Restaurant open daily, noon–10pm. Online table requests require confirmation. Details

Medora Bar & Kitchen Location: Oxted Bar and kitchen with menus and weekend opening information online. Details

Sweet Willow Location: 297 High Street, Dorking Local café. Hours unconfirmed. Details

Ji Chicken Location: 176 High Street, Guildford Chicken restaurant. Hours unverified. Details

DH Glazing & Repairs Location: Dorking and surrounding areas Glazing repairs; ask for quote. Details

Station Shoe Repairs Location: Oxted Shoe repairs and key cutting. Details

Veteran Locksmiths Location: 20 West Street, Haslemere Locksmiths advertising 24-hour emergency services. Details

Elite Stitch Location: Farnham Alterations and tailoring. Check hours. Details

The Phone Workshop Location: 134 High Street, Cranleigh Phone repairs, open Mon–Sat 9am–5.30pm. Details

Mobile Bitz Location: Ashley Centre, Epsom Mobile phone repairs, open daily 9am–6pm. Details

Jackson's Quality Shoe Repairs Location: Reigate Shoe repairs. Check hours. Details

Weybridge Cobbler Location: 33 Church Street, Weybridge Cobbler. Check hours. Details

And Finally,

I've spent much of this week wondering whether £100 will make a noticeable difference to the heating bill. By Sunday evening, I suspect I'll be wondering something equally pressing. How can one small pumpkin produce enough seeds to occupy every surface in the kitchen?

Still, I rather like Surrey at this time of year. The villages look lovely, the countryside changes colour and there always seems to be a bonfire somewhere.

Have a good weekend, and remember to retrieve your pumpkin from the doorstep before it becomes a November gardening experiment.