Cost of Living
The rising costs of food, utilities and day to day living affects people in different ways.
If you are struggling with day-to-day costs, there are organisations who can support you and your family during this difficult time.
We are here to help too. Find out if you are eligible for our Tenant Support Fund providing up to £350 in supermarket shopping or energy vouchers.
Contact your housing officer
See all our support options below. Call 0117 942 4600 and and ask to speak to your housing officer if you feel you would like some support.
Help with household bills
There are many schemes and organisations to help you manage your household bills and offer you support.
The Money Saving Expert website has a useful guide on how to manage household budgets.
Caring in Bristol have a helpful tool for anyone experiencing homelessness, download the handbook here.
You may be entitled to additional financial support – check the National Cost of Living Support website to find out if you are eligible for some extra government support to help with your household bills.
You may be eligible for council tax discounts:
- For people with disabilities
- For people medically certified to have a severe mental impairment (e.g. Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, severe learning difficulties, multiple sclerosis or effects of a stroke)
The energy regulator OFGEM provides information on what to do if you cannot afford your energy bills.
National Debtline has useful information to help you manage your water debt.
For support in your local area visit your council website:
- Bristol: bit.ly/bristolcostofliving
- Bath and NE Somerset: bit.ly/BNEScostofliving
- South Gloucestershire: bit.ly/sgloscostofliving
- Gloucestershire: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/your-community/support-hub
- Swindon: www.swindon.gov.uk/costofliving
- North Somerset: bit.ly/nsomtcostofliving
- Somerset: bit.ly/somersetcostofliving
Local community food schemes and food banks
There are many community food schemes and food banks.
Most don’t need a referral but some do. Brighter Places can act as a referrer for foodbanks if you need one.
Here are a few of them in the area:
- Bristol North West Food Bank
- Bath Food Bank
- Clevedon and District Foodbank
- Community fridges
- Fareshare Southwest
- Fair Frome
- Gloucester Foodbank
- Matthew Tree Project
- Melksham Foodbank
- North Bristol and South Glos Food Bank
- South and East Bristol Foodbank
- Secret Soup Society Lockleaze
- Swindon Food Collective
- Weston Food Bank
Please contact your Housing Officer for a referral and to see how else we can support you.
Heating your home
With rising costs of energy bills we are looking for ways to be more economical without feeling the cold.
For helpful tips and advice visit our Keeping Warm page.
Warm welcoming spaces
Warm welcome provides a national directory of warm welcoming spaces for anyone struggling to heat their home.
Find your nearest warm welcome space.
Credit unions
Credit unions provide fair and affordable financial services to people living and working in the area they cover.
Credit unions are financial institutions similar to banks. However, credit unions are member-owned financial cooperatives, controlled by members, and operated on a not-for-profit basis.
They generally provide services to members like retail banks, including deposit accounts, provision of credit, and other financial services. But, they may be able to assist with bank accounts for individuals with limited ID and poor credit history subject to their individual criteria.
Credit unions are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and by the Prudential Regulation authority (PRA).
Find out more credit unions in your area below.
- Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire, South Glos, Wiltshire, North Somerset and Somerset – Great Western Credit Union
- Wiltshire and Swindon – Wiltshire and Swindon Credit Union
- North Somerset – Westcountry Savings and Loans
- Somerset – Somerset Community Credit Union