We’re aware that everyone is feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis and many of you are struggling with the rising cost of heating your home, paying for food, or meeting your rent or mortgage payments. We’ve set out below a number of services and organisations that provide support in a wide range of ways.
If you don’t know where to turn, Burnley Together provides free information, support and guidance including providing free school uniform, health and wellbeing support, advice on budgeting and money management, and emergency food parcels.
Support to access food
- The Community Grocery bridges the gap between food banks and supermarkets by helping local residents with their weekly food shops. The annual membership fee is £5 and it is £5 a shop. You can shop up to two times a week.
- Children eligible for benefits related free school meals can get a place on the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, funded by the Department for Education, which provides free meals and activities during the school holidays. The HAF programme provides activities for children and young people for 1 week at Easter, 4 weeks in the Summer and 1 week in the Christmas holidays.
- Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get certain benefits
- If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old, you may be eligible for help with the cost of milk and healthy foods through the Healthy Start scheme. It’s worth £34 a month for the first year of your baby’s life and £17 per month from one year old to its fourth birthday.
Help with fuel costs and energy efficiency
- Help with fuel bills from GOV.uk
- Get help to make your home warmer and safer. The council offers a range of financial and other assistance to improve the standards of housing and the quality of life for qualifying residents.
- Cosy Homes in Lancashire (CHiL) – a one-stop shop for warmer homes, including grants for first-time central heating and insulation installation where eligible.
Money, debt, and housing advice
- Burnley and Pendle Citizens Advice can help with benefits and debt advice.
- Find out what help is available to households and businesses by visiting Lancashire County Council’s website
- Find out how what help you can get with heating and improving your home
- United Utilities – the water company, along with others such as energy suppliers, offer schemes to help their customers pay their bills and save money. Don’t be afraid to admit you’re struggling; it’s important to get hep as soon as possible before things get much worse.
- Pennine Community Credit Union offers help and advice with a range of money matters, as well as providing loan and savings schemes
Financial support
- The Government is providing a whole package of financial help for eligible people through its Help for Households campaign. This includes help with childcare costs, help with energy bills and income support.
- Household Support Fund – learn about our current scheme here.
- Burnley Council offers council tax discounts in certain circumstances. We are also looking at increasing our council tax support scheme for working households on low income
- We also manage and deliver a range of benefits – it’s worth a look to see if you could be eligible
Health support
- Warm Spaces – a network of warm and safe places across the borough where anyone can go to get a hot drink and some company, and help cut your heating bill at home for a few hours.
- If things get really bad and you need someone to talk to The Samaritans offer a listening ear and provide support and advice on mental health and other issues.