Why "free government survival kits" don't exist

By SGWNI. Checked on 2 November 2026.

The UK government isn’t giving out free survival kits. We checked the Be Ready announcement, the checklist and the campaign website on 2 November 2026, and none of them offers a free kit, or a voucher or grant to buy one. The campaign asks households to build up their own supplies over time, starting with what’s already in the cupboards. If you’ve seen an advert or a message offering a free government kit, treat it as suspicious until you’ve checked it.

What the government actually offers

Be Ready offers advice, not goods. It gives you:

a two-page checklist you can download;
a printable household emergency plan;
pages of advice on power cuts, flooding, storms and other hazards.

The announcement says many of the steps are free and others are meant to be low-cost. The checklist suggests picking up missing items on regular shopping trips, to spread the cost. It also suggests donating spare items to people who can’t afford to prepare, which is a sign that no central supply exists.

Why the idea has spread

The word “kit” is used a lot. News reports about Be Ready often talk about an emergency kit or a survival kit, which can sound like something the government hands out. Be Ready’s own material uses the word for the supplies you gather yourself.

Private companies also sell ready-made kits. That’s a normal business, but it isn’t a government service, and you don’t need one. Be Ready doesn’t recommend any product. We don’t sell kits either.

Some other countries send information to households. Sweden, for example, publishes a brochure called In case of crisis or war. That’s a booklet, not supplies.

What’s really free

Some useful help is free, though none of it comes in a box.

Priority Services Register. Free. It can bring tailored support during a power, gas or water problem, such as bottled water during a water interruption and priority updates. People of pension age, people with health conditions or disabilities, and households with a child aged five or under may qualify. Check whether you can join. Northern Ireland has separate registers.
A backup battery for your landline. Be Ready says that if you’re a vulnerable customer, such as a telecare user, your provider must give you a free backup battery. It should keep the line working for at least an hour.
Water if the mains fails. In England and Wales, Ofwat says companies must provide at least 10 litres per person per day within the first 24 hours. You may have to collect it.
Many Be Ready steps. Writing down numbers, making a plan, talking to neighbours, and learning how to turn off your gas, electricity and water cost nothing.

Councils, charities and community groups may run their own local schemes. That would be a local arrangement, not a national government one. If you hear of one, check with the organisation directly, using a number from its own website or a letter you already have.

How to spot a fake offer

We haven’t seen a confirmed report of a fake Be Ready kit offer so far. But scammers often use real news stories, and offers of something free, to get people to click, so be wary of any message that says you qualify for a free government kit. Watch for these:

It asks for your bank or card details, even for a small delivery fee.
It asks for personal details to confirm you’re eligible.
It came as a text, email or social media advert, with a link.
It uses a crest or the words Be Ready, but the web address isn’t on gov.uk or beready.campaign.gov.uk.
It pushes you to act quickly, because stocks are limited.

Don’t click the link. Go to GOV.UK yourself and search for what it claims.

How to report it

Suspicious email: forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk.
Suspicious text: forward it to 7726. It’s free.
Suspicious website: report it through GOV.UK’s scam pages.
If you’ve lost money or given your details: call your bank straight away, using the number on your card. Then report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

If money is the barrier

You’re not alone. In the government’s 2026 survey, 29% of people said they didn’t have enough money to prepare. Three days doesn’t have to mean a big shop, and it doesn’t have to happen at once.

Start with what you have. Tap water in clean bottles costs very little, though bottled water is the safest choice. Change self-filled water every 6 months.
Add one or two things on each shop. Our budget planner spreads the list across the weeks you choose.
Use our Be Ready checklist tool to see what you’ve already got. It’s free, with no sign-up.

If you need help getting food at all, a local food bank or Citizens Advice can tell you what’s available near you.