We continue to call on the Government to provide clear and comprehensive long-term plans on how they will ensure people in the UK are supported, with a matter of urgency, and with a focus on those most vulnerable within our communities.
Below we have brought together a set of useful links and resources that you may want to use to access support through this difficult and unusual time.
Useful websites
- London Plus: list of organisations, to signpost and match support for those affected by the rising cost of living.
- London Gov: Find information about benefits, grants and discounts you can get if you’re in financial difficulty, from the Mayor of London, the government, your local council, charities and advice centres.
- London Gov: Warmer homes scheme.
- London Gov: Local financial support lookup tool.
- Warm Welcome: Find warm spaces near you.
- London Gov: Financial help for deaf and disabled Londoners.
- London Gov: Help if your immigration status limits what you can claim.
- London Gov: Read in your language.
- London Gov: Better Off Calculator: check what benefits you could claim.
- Gov.uk: £400 energy bills discount to support households this Winter
- Gov.uk: Getting the Energy Bills Support Scheme discount
- Citizens Advice: Get help with the cost of living
- Mencap: Information and advice to support with food, energy and money.
- SELCE: advice for Greenwich and Lewisham Residents
- Step Change (Dept Charity): debt advice and support
- Shine London: fuel poverty support, advice and support speaking with utility providers
- London Smartworks: providing clothes and other support to women looking to get employment
- The Nourish Hub: a pay as you can/feel community cafe based in Hammersmith & Fulham
- The Food Chain: delivering meals and groceries, offering cookery and nutrition classes and communal eating opportunities to people living with HIV in London and their dependants.
- Ofcom: Social tariffs: Cheaper broadband and phone packages.
- Debt free advice: Debt Free Advice in partnership with the Mayor of London, has created a mobile advice centre in the form of a touring bus to reach and support Londoners in need of debt and money advice.
- FSB.Org: Advice for small businesses.
- Energy Advice London.
Cost of Living support and guidance by London Borough
Inner London
- Camden
- Royal Borough of Greenwich
- Hackney
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Islington
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
- Lambeth
- Lewisham
- Southwark
- Tower Hamlets
- Wandsworth
- City of Westminster
Outer London
- Barking and Dagenham
- Barnet
- Bexley
- Brent
- Bromley
- Croydon
- Ealing
- Enfield
- Haringey
- Harrow
- Havering
- Hillingdon
- Hounslow
- Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
- Merton
- Newham
- Redbridge
- Richmond upon Thames
- Sutton
- Waltham Forest
Outside of London
Food banks
There are food banks across London, including:
- Lewisham Donation Hub
- Southwark Foodbank
- Bethnal Green Foodbank
- Lewisham Foodbank
- Islington Foodbank
- Norwood and Brixton Foodbank
- North Paddington Foodbank
- Waterloo Foodbank
- Chelmsford Foodbank
- Colchester Foodbank
- Medway Foodbank
- Westminster Chapel
- Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank
Can't find a food bank near you? Visit Food Cycle to locate your nearest one.
Mental Health Support
If you are feeling isolated, lonely, or otherwise struggling with your mental health, free resources are available.
There are also a number of free mental health support lines and services that can be used by anyone:
- NHS: from 8:00am to 8:00pm, 7 days a week: 0808 196 3646.
- Samaritans: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: 116 123
- SANEline: 4:30pm-10:30pm, 7 days a week: 0300 304 7000
- National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 0800 6895652
Photo by Josh Appel.