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.
 Warm spaces in libraries across Manchester
Every library in Manchester is a warm space; a free, welcome, safe space which residents of all ages can come in and stay all day with lots of resources and support, such as:
- Hot drinks. The self-service hot drinks are free.
- Comfy seating and spaces for all ages.
- Free internet and free wifi
- Newspapers.
- Information and advice.
- Digital drop-ins one day a week.
Cost of Living Events
Harpurhey Community Cost of Living Advise Event
6 March, 12pm to 3pm taking place at No 93 Wellbeing Centre.
Featuring a range of services offering residents advise on cost of living support. Free hot food and drinks are available plus a free raffle to win a slow cooker.
Withington Community Fair
13 March, 2.30pm to 5.30pm at Withington Methodist Church.
A range of services helping tackle the cost-of-living crisis will be present to speak to residents to offer advice and support on bills, food, housing, employment and more.
Cracking Good Food
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 until 15 March.
- 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
Citizens Advice Manchester offers free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects. Find out more on the Citizens Advice website.
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
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.
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