Advice Line for Cost of Living Crisis Support
To support Manchester residents through the cost-of-living crisis, Manchester City Council have an advice line that offers:
- Support with benefits and help with your rent (this is an existing offer made available through the contact centre)
- Advice about debt and paying bills (this will be done in conjunction with Citizen Advice Manchester)
- Food support (residents will receive a call back to understand their needs and connected into a local food offer)
- Support getting online (residents will be linked in with the Council’s digital inclusion team)
Open 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Phone free 0800 023 2692.
The person you speak to will have access to language line for residents whose first language is not English. Sign Video will also be available
You can Fill in the Request Cost of Living Advice form to get online support
Look on manchester.gov.uk/helpinghands for advice on the cost of living crisis.
 Gorton Living Well Event
Wednesday 25 January, 12pm to 3pm
Everyone welcome! Free advice and support on health and wellbeing, benefits, money, debt and housing. Information available on employment, education and training and cost of living support. Pop in for a free hot drink and a friendly chat at the new Gorton Hub.
Covid vaccinations available, no appointment required.
Location: Gorton Hub, 27 Garratt Way, M18 8HE
Free parking on site, accessed by Garratt Way
Gorton Living Well Event
Cost of Living Winter Warmer event
Friday 27 January, 2pm to 4pm
Everyone welcome! They've got lots of free activities, food and drinks, information and advice to help you from friends and organisations in the local community.
Location: Didsbury Mosque, 271 Burton Road, M20 2WA
Cost of Living Winter Warmer event
Cracking Good Food Community Lunch & Learns
Tuesday lunchtimes from 12pm to 1pm
Brunswick Church, Brunswick Street, M13 9SX
- Weekly drop-in café from 12pm to 1pm at Brunswick Church, M13 9SX
- Free healthy, hearty meals (pay-as-you-feel option which will support extra provision for Christmas at last café session on 21 December if people do choose to contribute)
- Social eating time; opportunity to meet other local people and strengthen local ties
- Opportunity to find out more about the wide range of activities and community support offered by the Brunswick Community
- Cracking Good Food team will share a skill or recipe over lunchtime throughout lunch, and take any questions on budget cooking, minimising fuel use and nutrition to support people to eat well.
The venue is a church building, all people are very welcome and a diverse range of people attend and volunteer at the church
Free Weekly Community Meals
The Cracking Good Food team, supported by their volunteers, will be cooking, packing, and delivering 80 meals each Wednesday from the kitchen at Brunswick Church, Ardwick starting Wednesday 5 October to 21 December.
- Meal priority will be given to hospital discharge patients
- Remaining meals will be delivered to other referrals, including anyone experiencing food poverty or struggling to eat well
Email gemma@crackinggoodfood.org for a referral form or more information.
Citizens Advice Household Support
Citizens Advice Manchester currently have a pot of funding for Manchester residents who may be struggling financially. Families can receive support of up £100. There are no fixed criteria, and Citizens Advice will speak to residents directly to assess.
Help your family stay healthy and apply for your prepaid Healthy Start card
For more information and to apply to the NHS Healthy Start scheme, visit: www.healthystart.nhs.uk Or call the on 0300 330 7010
Government announce new Cost of Living Payments
Millions of low-income households to get new Cost of Living Payments from Spring 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Lets Get Digital
As the cost of living crisis continues, the MCC Digital Inclusion team want to share the support they can offer to residents who are struggling.
From cheap laptops and PCs to free WiFi and smartphones, they can get the kit and data that residents need to get online and for those who need to boost their digital skills, there are many locations across the city offering free classes and drop ins. They have created this directory where you can filter by postcode or ward to find your nearest class.
They also offer free telephone support to people who have internet access at home, but don’t have the skills or confidence to use it effectively. To access this free support,
Text: 07860 064128 or
Email: digitalinclusion@manchester.gov.uk
Digital exclusion is far more likely to affect those on low incomes, can cost
households up to £560 per year from the missed savings of shopping and paying bills online, and will negatively affect earnings. People with higher digital skills earn 3-10% more than those with low skills, make greater savings online and can access public services more easily. They believe that digital inclusion is an essential part of the response to the cost-of-living crisis. Please get in touch or see our website to find out more: www.letsgetdigitalmanchester.com
View this leaflet which shares QR codes to money saving apps and websites
Manchester Local Care Organisation
Need information on local support this Winter?
Download the neighbourhood Winter booklets for support this winter
Max Your Money
The Growth Company launched this initiative to support GM residents with the cost of living crisis. Max Your Money allows residents to easily understand what services they offer which can help them maximise their income whether it is finding employment, securing an additional job, gaining new skills to secure a better job or accessing support to develop their business.
They are working with a partner network which includes Citizen’s Advice, Trussell Trust & GM Poverty Action who will promote their offer to their customers, many of whom are accessing advice services for the first time.
Winterwise, A new guide to keeping well during winter
The Greater Manchester Ageing Hub has partnered with national older person's charity Independent Age to launch Winterwise, a new guide to keeping well during the winter period.
More than 325,000 printed guides are being distributed across Greater Manchester. The guide brings together key information for older people on cost of living support with messages focusing on three themes: ‘Stay warm’, ‘Stay safe’ and ‘Stay well’.
- ‘Stay warm’: Providing information about the financial support that older people could access to help them with rising energy costs
- ‘Stay safe’: Focusing on home safety advice for older people, including fire safety, how to spot and report scams, and what to do if they fall
- ‘Stay well’: Tips and advice on mental health and wellbeing, eating well and keeping active
To get a physical copy please look out for local distributions such as at libraries, pharmacies, warm hubs and more, or call Independent Age on 0800 319 6789.
Online version of the guide to keeping well during the winter period.
|
