Cost of Living Crisis

We have put together a series of resources to help you find what you need during this cost of living crisis. This page will be updated with new links when information becomes available.

Warm spaces and Warmth at Home

Warm spaces are being made available at many locations across Suffolk. All should be safe, free, and provide a provide a warm welcome, and many will provide a warm drink and refreshments. Many churches and others are working on becoming warm spaces and as at now this list is far from comprehensive. To register to be a warm space go to www.warmwelcome.uk	Warm spaces in Ipswich can be found at www.togetherforipswich.uk/cost-of-living Note this list is growing as others are added to it.
The Rural Coffee caravan also offers warm spaces throughout Suffolk MeetUpMondays Home - The Rural Coffee Caravan. The Rural Coffee Caravan website also has a list of warm spaces across Suffolk available here. RCC Winter Warmth - The Rural Coffee Caravan	All libraries in Suffolk are offering warms spaces, details are here Locations and times \| Suffolk Libraries
St Edmundsbury Cathedral warm space is located in the diocesan library at St Edmundsbury Cathedral and is furnished with comfortable chairs, free tea and coffee, an opportunity to charge electronic devices and desks available for those wishing to work in a warm environment. There will also be board games and jigsaw puzzles available. It will be open to all who need it on Thursdays from 10.00am – 3.00pm and will be overseen by two members of cathedral staff or volunteers.
Grants for heating, insulation, boiler repairs and emergency electric heating in the event of boiler failure, for home owners and tenants, can be accessed at www.warmhomessuffolk.org. Bulk purchasing of fuel oil and loans to spread the cost can be accessed at www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/oilbuying

Top up shops, pop up shops and food banks

Top Up Shops and Pop Up Shops provide food at £2 a bag, with no need for referral or from filling. Some shops offer tea, coffee, refreshments, and chat before or after. There are currently nine top up shiops run by the church in Ipswich with more planned, and similar pop up shops in Felixstowe and Martlesham.

www.ipswichtopupshops.co.uk

There are numerous food banks in Suffolk that provide free or low cost food to those in need. Many require a referral, for example form a GP or Social Services. A reasonably comprehensive list and an interactive map of food banks is available here or visit here.

Food that has reached its ‘Best Before’ date but still good to eat – ‘pay as you feel’ basis, minimum donation £1. Bury St Edmunds and Great Barton. www.stillgoodfood.org

FIND Families in Need – runs food banks in Ipswich, a referral is required: 01473 833351 to find out how to make a referral

www.findipswich.org.uk/contact

Housing, council tax and other benefits

These are the responsibility of Bough and District Councils who can be contacted with links listed below. Most councils also provide details of local sources of help on their websites. Citizens Advice Bureau and other advice agencies can also help with these areas.

East Suffolk

www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk

Ipswich

www.ipswich.gov.uk

Babergh and Mid Suffolk

www.midsuffolk.gov.uk or www.babergh.gov.uk

West Suffolk

www.westsuffolk.gov.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau here.

Period poverty

Can you support this need by making sanitary protection freely available on your premises?

Morrisons – Customer Services: ‘ask for Sandy’

Tesco – Customer Services: ‘ask for Beth’

Suffolk Libraries offering free menstrual products: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/visit/in-the-library/pride-and-periods

Period product scheme for schools and colleges in England: can you help support young people to access this provision? Visit this site for information here.

Financial assistance

Many people may be worried about debt and personal finances, some of them for the first time as they have managed within their income before and not needed support. This can be a major source of stress and worry.

Suffolk County Council provides the Local Welfare Assistance Fund, which can provide direct financial support for people and families, but need a referral form a ‘trusted partner’ organisations, which include CABs, Food banks, District and Borough Councils, and GP practices, so should be possible to arrange for most people. Details can be found here

Citizens Advice Bureau provides a range of advice, including money management and benefits.

The national website with information and tools for money management is available here: Debt and money - Citizens Advice

They also operate in a number of location in the county Suffolk InfoLink | Service Listings

The Government may be able to provide cost of living payments if you're entitled to certain benefits or tax credits. Find out more here: www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment

Some Parishes will have small charitable trust / hardship funds that can be called upon.

A wider list of money and debt advice organisations is available here Suffolk Infolink | Listings in Help for Adults

Christians Against Poverty is a national charity helping with debt counselling, money management skills, and employment skills. The national organisation can be contacted though CAP UK | Home