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S.O.S

Welcome to our emergency S.O.S Page. If you have reached this page it’s because you’ve stumbled across it whilst visiting my website or you’ve followed a link that’s been shared out. – Either way, this page is jam packed full of as much information as I could find to help you out.

It’s currently 2023 and we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis. So many people are struggling financially at the moment which is having a knock on affect.  I’ve personally been in a situation where i’ve had to choose between eating and heating and it’s isn’t nice.

Please never ever feel ashamed to ask for help and advice. Talk to friends and family  – There is no shame whatsoever in asking for help or just sharing your worries. You may find that you and your friends and family can help each other. Not only that but you wouldn’t believe the amount of stress that is relieved by just speaking to someone.

This page is a hub of advice and will be constantly updated to give as much help and guidance as possible. below 

I must stress that I am in no way a financial advisor and not a professional but I am keen to help people save money and make money where possible.

Information correct as of February 2023

Need Help With Food

1. Food Banks

The Trussell Trust have a nationwide network of Food Banks across the UK. If you need help from a food bank you will need to be referred a . Don’t worry! This as not as troublesome as it sounds.

Food bank vouchers can be issued by many local organisations or individuals such as, GP’s, schools, CAB, Social Workers, Health Visitors, Children’s centres, nurseries, housing associations/ housing officers,  advice charities, mental health workers – the list is endless.

Your local foodbank will be able to advise you of referral agencies in your area. Find your local Food Bank HERE

Food banks provide a minimum or 3 days worth of food and can also offer additional support in some cases.

 

2. Olio

Olio is a mobile app for sharing by giving away, getting, borrowing or lending things in your community for free, aiming to reduce household and food waste. It does this by connecting neighbours with spare food or household items to others nearby who wish to pick. Olio is best used when dowloading the app but you can use the web based version HERE.

 

3. Community Fridge/Pantry

To find your local community fridge you can search HERE

 

4. Healthy Start Vouchers

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you are eligable you will be sent a Healthy Start Card

The healthy start card entitles you ree fruit, vegetables, milk, and vitamins worth at least £220 a year.

Healthy start vouchers

The NHS Healthy Start scheme provides a Healthy Start digital pre-paid card for milk, fruit and vegetables to pregnant women, and infant milk and vitamins, for families with children under the age of four.

The Healthy Start digital pre-paid card can be used in shops that are registered with the scheme and this includes most major retailers.

If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, and in receipt of certain benefits, you could be entitled to a Healthy Start prepaid card worth £4.25 per child per week, to spend on healthy food and milk.

You also qualify if you are under 18 years of age, even if you do not receive the above benefits.

If you have previously been in receipt of vouchers you will need to re-apply to continue getting help.

To check to see if you are eligable and apply CLICK HERE

5. Supermarket cafe/Kids eat Free offers.

From time to time supermarkets with cafes will have offers on for families with children. These are especially popular during school holidays but can also be continuous.

Look out for banners in store and visit supermarket websites.

At the time of writing this Morrisons have an ongoing ‘Kids Eat Free’ deal on in their cafe. All day everyday when you purchase an adult meal for £4.49 or over.

KIDS EAT FREE

We often post a round up of school holiday cafe offers in our Facebook group regularaly. You can join our Facebook group HERE

6. Too Good To Go App

This App is a must! it is only available as a free app so you will need to download it from your app store on your device but it’s just a brilliant initiative. The Too Good To Go app allows consumers to rescue unsold food from, supermarkets, mini markets, cafes, restaurants and more – Allowing you to purchase at a reduced price and also combating food waste.

Download the app and have a browse to see where your local establishments are, you can even add your favourites. Keep checking to see what is available at all different times of day. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner etc.

You can’t choose your products as you will get a surprise bag but on a personal note, I have never been disappointed  by what i’ve received. 

You will order a “Surprise bag” of surplus food at a reduced price, you then collect it from the story at the time stated (this will be shown before you make your purchase). 

For example of what’s available, in my area we have Toby carvery which also includes a vegetarian option, Tony breakfast, morrisons cafe cooked food, Morrisons supermarket groceries, Nisa Local, Greggs, costa and much more. 

7. Street Feeds

This is a free service and is dependant upon where you live as they are usually voluntarily run and rely heavily on volunteers giving up their time and donations from local businesses. I know that lots of my readers are based in Coventry. If you are you may want to look up Sky Blue Support on Facebook who operate in Willenhall and Hillfields. It is a service that is very much in demand.  There is also Streetfeeds Coventry.

If you are not local to Coventry then use Google to search street feeds in your area and do the same on Facebook too. 

Street feeds aim to feed you a hot or cold meal at the time and depending on availability and donations may have supplies for you to take home too.

 

Streetfeed1

8. Yellow Label Shopping

9. Local Church/Community Centre

10. Loyalty Points

11. Vouchers/Coupons 

Need Help With Finances

1. Credit Union

2. Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund  is provided by the Government to local authorities to support families with children and individuals in need. Funding is aimed at anyone who is vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. You DO NOT have to be in receipt of benefits to get help from your local council.

Each council decides how their scheme runs so you will need to check with your local council to see if you are eligible and how to apply if you are. 

Find your local council HERE

3. Community Support Fund

4.Cost of living Payment

The government has announced when further Cost Of Living payments will be made between spring 2023 and spring 2024. These payments are:

  • £301 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid during spring 2023
  • £150 for people on an eligible disability benefit, to be paid during summer 2023
  • £300 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid during autumn 2023
  • £300 for pensioner households, to be paid during winter 2023 to 2024
  • £299 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid in spring 2024
You DO NOT need to apply for this payment – if you are eligible you should receive your payment automatically.

You should have already received your 2022 Cost of living payment if you were eligible for it and will be paid automatically in the same way you usually receive your benefits or tax Credits.

There is LOTS of information about this on the Government Website HERE so please do check and read through.

 

Further guidance will be published when more details have been announced, including the qualifying dates.

5. Council Tax Reduction

You may be eligible for a reduction in your Council Tax bill if you are on a low income or claim benefits. It doesn’t matter if you own your home or rent – it also doesn’t matter if you are employed or unemployed. 

What you get depends on:

  • where you live – each council runs its own scheme
  • your circumstances (for example income, number of children, benefits, residency status)
  • your household income – this includes savings, pensions and your partner’s income
  • if your children live with you
  • if other adults live with you
To check to see if you are eligible  and apply CLICK HERE
If you are in Northern Ireland CLICK HERE
 

6. Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs)

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs.

You can apply for a DHP if you currently get either:

  • Housing Benefit
  • the housing element of Universal Credit and need more financial support with housing costs.

DHP funding is available in England and Wales. Find out how to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment in Scotland.

DHP funding in England and Wales can help people with housing costs, including those affected by:

  • the benefit cap
  • removal of the spare room subsidy in the social rented sector
  • Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates

You may get a DHP to cover housing costs for:

  • a rent shortfall
  • rent deposits
  • rent in advance if you need to move home
Contact your local council to apply or CLICK HERE
 

7. Selling unwanted items.

8. Online Calculator

9. Cashback Apps

 

Additional Support

Citizens Advice 

Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call 0808 208 2138 (Open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm).

They can help address your crisis and provide support to maximise your income, help you navigate the benefits system, and identify any additional grants you could be entitled to. If needed, they’ll issue you with a voucher so you can get an emergency food parcel from your local food bank.

If you live in Northern Ireland contact Advice NI on 0800 915 4604 (Open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm. Closed on public holidays.)

They can help address your crisis and provide support to maximise your income, help you navigate the benefits system, and identify any additional grants you could be entitled to. The advisers can also provide specialist debt and budgeting advice to people calling the line. For more information, click here. If needed, they can also issue you with a voucher so you can get an emergency food parcel from your local food bank.

advice NI
Click to enlarge

The Government website has a wealth of information available and whilst i’ve done my best to cover as much as possible in this post. I could never cover it all.

THIS LINK will take you the the governemnt website where you can browse and see what else you may be eligible for

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