Local Support Networks
Here you can find a wide range of local and national support services that offer advice and guidance on how to save money and make the most of what you have.
In addition to household management tips, and low cost solutions, you will also find links to grants and benefits that you may be eligible for.
Suffolk InfoLink: Cost of Living Support
A directory of local initiatives and provisions designed to provide support regarding the cost of living crisis for the people of Suffolk. Support includes the following:
- Top up/pop up shops, food banks and Healthy Start benefits
- Fuel, energy, utilities and household bills support
- Finance and debt
- Warm spaces
- Mental health support systems
Get help with the following:
- Household support funding
- Benefits checker and early benefit payments
- Cost of Living payment
- Energy bills support scheme
- Support with rent, council tax, food, health and child costs
- Budget planner
The National Debtline is a charity that offer free, confidential and independent advice over the phone and online. They can help you to work out your budget, understand how the cost of living can affect you, how to deal with the rise in energy costs and more.
If you have low income, the NHS Low Income Scheme may be able to help you with the following:
- NHS prescription charges
- NHS dental treatment charges
- Cost of sight tests, glasses and contact lenses
- Cost of travelling to receive NHS treatment
- NHS wigs and fabric support
How much help you receive depends on your weekly income and necessary outgoings, plus any savings or investments you have at the time you apply.
Provides free and confidential advice on debt, housing, family wellbeing and more. Check if you are eligible to receive support from the CLA website.
The University of Suffolk has a dedicated Health and Wellbeing support toolkit for our staff to access at any time. The toolkit provides the University and its community with the information, tools and opportunities to support self-care and enhanced support internally and externally when you require it.
Money and Mental Health Policy Institute
The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute can assist you with your mental health, finances, benefits and cost of living and provides links to nationwide charities and organisations that can support you where you need it most.
Suffolk Mind provides counselling services, mental health support groups and wellbeing training for organisations which are open for self-referral.
Suffolk Wellbeing Service
Wellbeing Suffolk provides a range of support for people with common mental health and emotional issues, such as low mood, depression or stress. Suffolk Wellbeing Service will work with you to make the necessary changes to improve your wellbeing and quality of life and their services are free and available to people aged 16 and over.
Warm Homes Suffolk is a local initiative which has been set up by local councils to help households reduce their fuel bills as well as reduce their carbon footprint as part of the journey to help the county become NetZero by 2030. The funding initiative is backed by the department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy and aims to upgrade the energy efficiency for all properties across Suffolk.
The Warm Homes initiative provides support to Home Owners, Renters and Landlords across Suffolk with expert help and advice around installing insulation in households, use of LED bulbs, installation of Air Source Heat Pumps and much more.
For more information and to check your eligibility, visit the Warm Homes website.
The Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation who is a respected and trusted voice on energy efficiency and clean energy solutions.
They provide impartial guidance and advice for:
- Heating your home
- Reducing home heat loss
- Generating renewable electricity
- Buying energy efficient products
- Low carbon travel
You can start saving money on your energy bills today by accessing their website.
Turn2Us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially and offer a range of services such as:
- Benefits Calculator: Lets users know which means-tested benefits you may be entitled to, including tax credits.
- Grants Search: Helps you to look for funds that might be able to give you a grant or other types of help.
Check if your child is eligible for free school meals in England via your local authority's website. If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will also qualify for the Holiday Activity and Food Programme.
The NHS Healthy Start scheme provides vouchers for pregnant women and families with a child under four years old and are on a low income to buy basic food.
Money Savings Expert provides advice, links and resources for a huge number of different topics such as:
- Household Bills
- Banking and Savings
- Mortgages and Homes
- Insurance
- Income and Budgeting
And much more. They also provide support for students in terms of student loans, bank accounts and managing money.
Love Money provides weekly roundups of cheap food and drink deals from major supermarkets including Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.