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Help if you're struggling with living costs

The rising cost of living is affecting everybody in different ways and we want to support those most impacted.

This guide can point you to useful websites, community organisations, advice and guidance to help you through the rising cost of living.

Cost of living pressures can affect our mental health and wellbeing, making us feel stressed, anxious or low. Talk to friends and family about how you're feeling. There are local organisations that can also help, and it's important to look after your own wellbeing.

Food support

#FeedCheltenham

#FeedCheltenham is a group of local charities, schools and churches working in partnership with the Cheltenham food support network to feed people in Cheltenham.

Food pantries

You can join your local food pantry by paying a membership fee. Please contact your nearest pantry for more information about joining.

Cheltenham Foodbank

For emergency food parcels contact Cheltenham Foodbank on 01242 570080 between 9am and 2.30pm or email foodbank@cheltenhamelim.org.

Caring for communities and people (CCP) pantry project

340 High Street,
GL50 3JF

Contact: 01242 228999.

Open 9am to 3pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Springbank Community Food Pantry

Ron Smith Pavillion,
Springbank Way,
GL51 0LH

Contact: 07545 324225 or 01242 237854.

Open 9am to 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Cornerstone cupboard

1 Severn Road,
Whaddon,
GL52 5QA

Contact: 01242 777777.

Open 10.30am to 3.30pm on Thursday.

West Cheltenham Community Pantry

Hesters Way Resource Centre,
Cassin Drive,
GL51 7SU

Contact: info@westcheltenhampantry.org or call 07483 125289.

Open 10am to 1pm on Wednesday and Thursday.

Lakeside community project

St Margaret's Hall,
Coniston Road,
GL51 3NU 

Contact: 07811 715695

Open 11.30am to 12.30pm on Tuesday.

How to give your help and support

You can make a donation to your nearest food pantry or food bank.

Items most needed include:

  • Shampoo
  • Tea and coffee
  • Laundry detergent
  • Tinned meat
  • Tinned fruit
  • Breakfast cereal

You can also make a donation to #FeedCheltenham to help feed those in need.

Help with fuel bills, energy efficiency and keeping warm

Energy efficiency in your home

Visit our energy efficiency pages for guidance on how to make your home more energy efficient and help save money.

Warm and Well tips and support

We've partnered with Severn Wye Energy Agency (SWEA) to share energy saving resources. Leaflets with this information will also be available from Cheltenham Trust venues, to support those who are unable to access the internet.

The Warm and Well scheme also has a grants and funding section, which details various local and national grant schemes available. They also have advisors you can talk to about which scheme may work for you.

Severn Trent support schemes

Severn Trent Water have a number of schemes to help with paying your bills, including a Big Difference Scheme can offer a reduction of water bills up to 90%.

Government support

Cold Weather Payment 

You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.

The Winter Fuel Payment is usually paid automatically in November or December if you're eligible.

Housing and homelessness support

Housing support

We can give advice, support and guidance if you're having difficulty paying your rent. Visit our housing options and advice pages for further information.

Paying your rent

You may be able to get help with your rent if you:

  • are on a low income
  • don't already get help with housing costs

Most people on a low income who are renting privately, from the council, or a housing association need to make a Universal Credit claim.

You could get housing benefit to help pay your rent if you’re on a low income and do not meet the criteria to claim Universal Credit.

Homelessness

The housing options team can help you find a suitable home for your needs or prevent you from losing your current home. There are many housing options available and the team will be able to discuss them with you. We can give you advice about whether you are homeless, at risk of homelessness or simply looking for help with your housing issue.

Find out more on the housing advice and homelessness pages. You may also be able to get advice from Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity and the Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Rough sleepers

You can use the Streetlink website to let us know about someone who is sleeping rough, or to report a concern. This is an extremely quick and effective action that anyone can take so we can find and build relationships with individuals and help them find accommodation and support.

Benefits and other financial support

Visit our benefits pages for information on the types of benefits you could be eligible for. You can use an independent benefit calculator to give you an estimate.

Benefit and money advice

Our benefit and money advice service is here to give free and confidential advice on all welfare benefits and day-to-day money management.

We can:

  • give help and advice to Cheltenham residents, whether you are renting or own your home. If you are struggling to afford your rent or mortgage you could be putting your home at risk
  • suggest simple budgeting tips, energy advice and can carry out a benefit check-up

Visit our benefit and money advice pages for more information.

If you are a Cheltenham Borough Council housing services tenant, you can directly contact the benefit and money advice team for assistance.

Check you’re not one of up to 7 million people in the UK missing out on income-related state benefits

An estimated £15bn of benefits are believed to go unclaimed each year. Use a free benefits calculator to find out what you could be entitled to.

Or contact Citizens Advice Cheltenham for one-to-one help to do this.

If you are turned down for a benefit, seek advice on whether to challenge the decision. Many benefit decisions are overturned, and organisations like Citizens Advice can offer advice about challenges.

Get help with childcare costs

Over one million families are missing out on up to £2,000 a year towards childcare costs – check what help you could get. Use this calculator to find out how much you could get towards approved childcare, including: free childcare for children aged between two and four help with childcare costs if your child is under 16 (or under 17 and disabled).

Cutting costs around broadband costs

Broadband is essential for many people now working from home and can be a significant monthly cost for households.

If you are looking to reduce your broadband costs or struggling to pay there is a range of helpful advice on the Ofcom website.

If you are claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits you could be eligible for ‘Social Tariffs’ that cost less than normal packages. The Ofcom website has information on ‘Social Tariffs’.

Worrying about money?

Advice and support is available if you're struggling to make ends meet. Visit the Worrying About Money website or download their Worrying About Money leaflet to find advice and support specific to your needs.

Stop Loan Sharks

Stop Loan Sharks investigates and prosecutes illegal money lenders and provides support for borrowers in the UK. If you have borrowed from a loan shark or are worried about someone else, they're here to help and keep you safe.

You can also check if a moneylender is registered, and report an illegal moneylender on GOV.UK.

Government support

You may get a payment to help with the cost of living if you're getting certain benefits or tax credits.

Visit the government 'Help for Households' hub to see what other cost of living support you could be eligible for.

Help if you're a pet owner

If you're a pet owner who's struggling to cope with the cost of food or healthcare, the RSPCA offers a range of advice and support.

Additional support for older people and disabled people

Support and advice for older people

Age UK Gloucestershire

Age UK Gloucestershire are here to help people to navigate later life, live independently at home for as long as they wish to and connect socially within their community.

Winter fuel payment

If you were born on or before 25 September 1956 you could be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills.

If you’re over State Pension age, check if you’re eligible for Pension Credit

Pension Credit (0800 99 1234) provides extra money for living costs and access to other help.

Around a third of eligible pensioners don’t claim Pension Credit – often because they don't know they can or that they need to. Find out if you’re eligible and how much you could get using the Pension Credit calculator.

People of State Pension age may be entitled to Pension Credit even though they may have modest savings, or a retirement income or own their own home. An award of Pension Credit can provide access to a range of other benefits such as help with housing costs, Council Tax, heating bills and, for those aged 75 or over, a free TV licence.

Support and advice for disabled people

Council tax disabled band relief

You may be able to get a reduction on your council tax bill through disabled band relief if you, or an adult or child living with you, is permanently disabled.

Disability cost of living payment

If you're getting a disability benefit you will automatically receive a £150 disability cost of living payment from the government from September 2022.

If you're not getting benefits:

You should start a claim as soon as possible if you're eligible.

Related Pages

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