Help with Cost of Living

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.

Aisles of food at the community grocer

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.
lady keeping warm by a radiator wearing a nice warm jumper whilst looking at energy bills and laptop

Help with fuel costs and energy efficiency

two pound, one pound and 50p coins on a table

Money, debt, and housing advice

ten and five pound notes

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
A red heart on a mint circle graphic representing the warm spaces project

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.