Cost of Living Support

We know this is a challenging time and many families across London and the UK are facing financial difficulties. On this page, you'll find services and resources which provide practical help and/or emotional support. Some of these are local to the Borough of Southwark and others are either London or UK wide. 

Government & Local London Borough of Southwark Advice

• Cost of Living Advice -  For advice on bills, childcare, benefits, housing and travel please visit:  https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living
• Southwark Council Cost of Living Support - For financial advice and support, help with paying energy bills, help with food and household costs as well as advice on finding a job please visit: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/cost-of-living-support
• Southwark Council Hardship Fund - For help with household bills please visit https://www.southwark.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/hardship-fund

Food Banks, Meals and Warm Spaces

• The Trussell Trust Food Banks - The foodbank can provide you with an emergency food parcel visit their website to find out more and learn how to get a food voucher for emergency food https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
• Warm Welcome Spaces - warm and welcoming spaces for free for the public this winter where you can connect with others and make new friends. Warm Welcome is waiting for you just around the corner, all through the year. https://www.warmwelcome.uk/
• Apply for Free Healthy Secondary School Meals Scheme now - The scheme is for secondary school pupils: from families who get Universal Credit, and who are not currently eligible for government benefits-related free school meals (FSM) if their household income is more than £7,400 per year. Find out more about this scheme at: www.southwark.gov.uk/secondary-meals

Support with Energy Costs

You may be able to apply directly to your energy supplier for grants and hardship funds to help with energy debts. 

• British Gas Energy Support Fund - https://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/help-with-bills/british-gas-energy-support-fund.html
• Scottish Power Hardship Fund - https://community.scottishpower.co.uk/t5/Extra-Help/Hardship-Fund/ta-p/53
• OVO Energy financial support - https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/debt-and-energy-assistance
• E-ON Next financial support (in partnership with Charis) - https://charisgrants.com/partners/eon-next/
• EDF financial support (in partnership with Charis) - https://charisgrants.com/partners/eon-next/
• BULB energy financial support - https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/sections/360007072652-Extra-help-for-members
• Octopus Energy Financial Assistance - https://octopus.energy/financial-assistance/

Haberdashers' Support for Families

• Hardship Fund - Parents can apply for financial support with school trip fees, uniform, music tuition, equipment, books etc. The support provided will be at the discretion of the Principal and decisions will be made on a case by case basis. 
• Contact us at Borough Academy - If you are considering making a Hardship Fund application or if you would like to talk to us about other support available, please contact Mr Euan Paterson via boroughreception@habstrustsouth.org.uk

• Childcare Vouchers - Borough Academy is registered to receive childcare vouchers through Computershare Voucher Services. These can be used towards payments via ParentPay for extra-curricular activities, such as tuition, after school activities, trips and visits. Parents are able to locate and select our account to make payment via our user ID number 0027000238, setting name or postcode. For further information, please visit https://www.computershare.com/uk/business/other/childcare-vouchers

• How to register childcare vouchers
• Help paying for childcare: Childcare vouchers and other employer schemes - GOV.UK

Support for Refuges/Asylum Seekers

•  Look Ahead - Look Ahead offers Semi-Independent Living (SIL) services for young people in and leaving care, including young parents and their children, and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) aged 16–25. Get in contact vie email: getintouch@lookahead.org.uk or phone: 020 7234 9500 In order to find our more about Look ahead please visit their website: https://www.lookahead.org.uk

• Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers - The day centre provides holistic support including advice, counselling, advocacy, practical support, health and wellbeing activities and English classes. Visit their website to fine out more:  https://sdcas.org.uk
• Southwark Muslim Women's Association - A community centre supporting Muslim women in Southwark, including asylum seekers and refugees. Services include: advice, counselling, health and recreational activities for women, youth activities, lunch club for the elderly, adult education for newly arrived asylum seekers/refugees, English classes, computer studies, Creche and supplementary school. To get in contact call: 020 7732 8053 or email: smwasmwa@aol.com or visit their website https://www.multikulti.org.uk/agencies/bengali/london/5722/
• Refugee Council - 'We do what it takes to support refugees to rebuild their lives in Britain. From the moment they arrive until they are completely independent. Come rain or shine, we work with refugees to feel safe and integrate into their new community. We provide a range of services. From a warm shower and something to eat, to helping find safe accommodation and employment. Our expert teams are there to support refugees'. Visit their website: My View Children's Therapy - Refugee Council

 Other Support

• Victim Support - Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. Victim Support provides  specialist help to support people to cope and move on to the point where they feel they are back on track with their lives. Visit their website: www.victimsupport.org.uk 
• Young Carers - Carers Trust works to transform the lives of unpaid carers. It partners with its network of local carer organisations to provide funding and support, deliver innovative and evidence-based programmes and raise awareness and influence policy.​ Carers Trust’s vision is that unpaid carers are heard and valued, with access to support, advice and resources to enable them to live fulfilled lives. Visit their website: www.carers.org
• Young Minds - More young people than ever before need support with their mental health and accessing that support quickly can make a critical difference to those young people. To find out more about Young Minds strategy please visit their website: www.youngminds.org.uk 
• Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS, previously CAMHS) - If you're worried about the mental health of a child or young person or even your own mental health, just know that you are not alone and there are places both you and your children can turn to for help. Please visit www.nhs.uk
• Imago - Southwark Young Carers - If you are a young carer under the age of 18 and need support please visit: https://www.imago.community/young-carers-services/young-carers-services
• Southwark Family Early Help - ‘The right help, at the right time, in the right place’ visit their website to find out more: https://localoffer.southwark.gov.uk/education/specialist-services-offered-by-the-council/family-early-help-feh/
• Kooth - Southwark Wellbeing Hub -  Southwark Wellbeing Hub takes the stress out of finding, choosing and receiving support. Visit their website: https://www.together-uk.org/southwark-wellbeing-hub/
• The Nest - Whether you're a young person, a parent/carer, or an organisation/professional struggling with mental health, just know it matters and there are always people willing to listen and help. Please visit: https://www.thenestsouthwark.org.uk/