Cost of living help and resources
Find resources and services in Trafford to help you and your family make the most of your money.
Government's Help for Households
- Energy Price Guarantee - GOV.UK the UK Government sets out in this page who will continue to recieve the Energy Price Guarantee discount as of 1 July 2023, and how.
- Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK is continuing for those who are eligible, such as households on certain low-income benefits like Universal Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit and Child Tax Credit. This is up to 5 payments to help with the cost of living.
- Disability Cost of Living Payment is an additional payment of £150 for those who have been in receipt of disability benefits before or during April 2023.
- Pensioner Cost of Living Payment if you're entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for 2023 to 2024 you will receive an extra £150 or £300 paid with your normal payment from November. You will be sent a letter in October or November if you are eligible.
Local sources of help
- Trafford Assist is the Council’s local welfare assistance scheme to help low income residents in short-term acute financial difficulties. Eligible households may qualify for emergency help with food, energy and water bills, essential travel expenses, white goods and furniture.
- Digital Trafford - Free SIM cards, discounted Broadband, borrow a Laptop or other devices, digital drops ins and digital champions to help keep you connected as well as free courses from entry level courses to career boosting skills.
- Help with money matters - getting help with debts, making the most of your money, where to get benefits advice and help with energy bills.
- Support with food - food banks and community grocery schemes, plus help available from supermarkets and Free School Meals.
- School uniform costs - including grants to pay for new items of school uniform, or places offering preloved clothes, shoes and kits.
- The Money Advice Referral Tool (MART) has been developed to boost household income and financial resilience by getting more money into people’s pockets, and helping them access the support they are entitled to.
Community Response Hubs
There are 6 Community Response Hubs located in Trafford.
They are on hand to provide a range of support to the communities they serve, including help with the cost of living resources, improving skills, mental wellbeing and physical health as well as help to become more socially connected and feel less isolated.
They will listen to you to understand your situation and give you information and advice that may help.
Altrincham
We run a free community meal each Wednesday evening and we can issue food bank vouchers from the Trussel Trust.
We also run a Community Cupboard for anyone who may need a little extra help with grocery supplies. Every Friday, 10am you can help yourself to some store cupboard staples. First come, first serve. Don't forget to bring your own carrier bags if possible.
Citizens Advice run a drop-in each Wednesday morning and afternoon.
Stretford
Can provide emergency food parcels, referrals to food banks and clothing banks, referrals to Trafford Assist for financial help, access to household support fund and fuel vouchers.
Citizens Advice provide a drop-in service every Tuesday. We can also provide free SIM cards from the online centres network.
Partington
Our Hope Store Pantry is available to all local residents via a membership. We stock a wide range of basic essentials and you can pay £3.50 for a bag of shopping, or £5 if there are more than 3 people in your house and you need a bigger bag.
We can also provide referrals for food bank vouchers and kids packed lunches through some school holidays.
Citizens Advice provide a drop-in service every Monday. We can also provide emergency support to help those who find themselves in difficult financial situations and are unable to access Trafford Assist support first. We can provide free SIM cards from the National Databank.
Sale
Contact the Sale Hub about access to food bank vouchers, food parcels or other food support from The Bread & Butter Thing and Foodshare as well as emergency financial assistance, clothing support and energy top-ups.
We can provide budget and debt advice as well as help with referrals to other support. We provide digital device loans.
Stretford
Our Stretford Community Hub coordinator can refer residents to Stretford food bank, other food support and household support fund.
We have a free community cafe and community activities. We can help you if you are in need of emergency financial assistance.
Citizens Advice are resident at our hub on Tuesdays.
Urmston
Age UK Urmston Community Hub and West VCFSE Collective
Our community hub services are for all age.
Can refer to food banks and provide emergency food support. Help with energy top-ups. Access to household support fund and referrals to Trafford Assists.
Citizens Advice can be booked via appointment and are at our community hub on a Friday.
Citizens Advice Trafford
Citzens Advice offer Face to Face sessions across Trafford.
Monday
Partington Library Drop in 10am-1pm
The Hope Centre at The Hideaway Partington Drop in 1.30pm-3.30pm
Tuesday
Stretford Public Hall Drop in 9.30am-3pm
St John’s Centre (Old Trafford)- Drop in 9.30am - 3.30pm
Wednesday
Altrincham Hub Drop in 9.30am-3.30pm
Thursday
Sale West Community Centre Drop in 9.30am-3.30pm
Friday
Urmston Library Drop in 10.00am to 4pm
Urmston AgeUK Appointment only
You can also give them a call on 0808 278 7803, their phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:30am 5:30pm. All calls are free of charge.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
There are lots of organisations that offer mental health support, both locally and nationally. You might need different types of support at different times in your life. Sometimes it might just be about getting a bit of advice or sometimes problems are more serious or don’t get better with self-help.
- Trafford Directory | Mental Health and Wellbeing - for children and young people
- Trafford Directory | Mental Health and Wellbeing - for adults and older people
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