Find out about keeping energy costs low and keeping warm, free festive fun and activities, and reducing your festive spending.
You can also visit our cost of living support pages for more information.
Keeping warm this winter
Heating and energy efficiency as it gets colder
As the weather gets colder, make sure you are using your energy in the most effective way possible.
Speak to our SHINE advice team (Seasonal Health Intervention Network Energy) directly on 0800 953 1221 for support or visit our Greener Together website for energy saving tips and advice.
 Community spaces offering a warm welcome
A range of local community spaces are opening their doors this winter and offering free, non-judgemental spaces where people can go to stay warm, maybe enjoy some company and a hot drink. You can see a list of the warm community spaces across Islington on our Find Your Islington website.
Free festive fun
 Free holiday activities with food over the Christmas break
Have you signed up for our Lunch Bunch programme of free holiday activities with food? Over the winter break the programme will operate between January 2-5, ahead of the new term starting, giving young people the chance to enjoy a range of holiday activities where they will also be offered free meals.
This winter we are also offering eligible families a food hamper, containing ingredients and recipes to make three delicious and healthy meals at home with family or friends, plus a £12 Tesco voucher to buy the fresh ingredients required. Why not give cooking a try or, if you already enjoy cooking, give these recipes a go!
Lunch Bunch is open to young people who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals in term time, those who have an Education Health Care Plan, and those referred by a social worker, family support worker or other professional.
 Free festive craft sessions in our libraries
Looking for some festive activities to keep the kids busy? Our libraries are offering a range of free activities this winter to keep the little ones entertained.
From paper chain decorations, reindeer headdresses, handprint wreaths, to snowman decorations, there are lots of crafting sessions to get stuck into.
Just drop into, or get in touch with, your local library to find out more about when these are happening. You can visit our website to find details of your local library.
 Difficult to get out in the cold weather? Our libraries can come to you!
Did you know that Islington Council runs a free home library service for residents who find it difficult to get to a library?
Our Home Library Service team travels around the borough delivering books and other resources to readers who find it difficult to get to the library because they are elderly, have a disability or long-term illness, or are caring for someone.
Smart spending this Christmas
 Cheap and thoughtful gift ideas
Giving gifts this Christmas should not mean breaking the bank, from secret Santa, meaning you need to buy for one person rather than many, to reused, recycled and homemade gifts there are lots of ways to save money and you can help the environment at the same time.
Check out Country Living’s list of Do it Yourself (DIY) homemade Christmas gifts you can create without breaking the budget.
Now more than ever, we need to get behind our local businesses by shopping locally. It also means spending less on travel to find the things that you need.
This doesn’t mean you’ll be making a compromise! We are lucky enough to have a fantastic array of small independent businesses and markets here in Islington, where you’ll discover unique products and services for every budget on your doorstep or from the comfort of your home. Visit the Islingtonlife website for more reasons to shop local and to see our range of businesses in Islington.
 Help to manage the cost of Christmas
Wintertime is the peak period for spending around Christmas, followed by the peak season in debt. There’s help at hand for you to prepare and plan for the festive period. London Capital Credit Union is a not for profit savings and loans co-operative dedicated to promoting saving rather than borrowing and they’ve set up their budget planner to help you prepare for the festive period and set yourself a budget and stick to it.
 Let us know what is worrying you
As we move into the winter months, we want to learn more about how the cost of living crisis is impacting you so that we can design the right kinds of support.
With rising costs for heating, eating and renting your home or paying your mortgage, we want to know how you're feeling, whether you are cutting back, and what is worrying you.
Please take part in our short survey to have your say before Friday 29 December.
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