Cost of Living Support
Green Doctors
The Green Doctors offer free help if you have a low household income of around £21,500, although households with people over 65 or with a long-term health condition/disability are prioritised.
The team will:
- Explain how to make homes energy efficient
- Install energy saving devices
- Offer impartial advice on switching energy providers to save money
- Give income support and debt advice
- Connect residents with other health and support services
Referrals can be made by calling 0330 365 3005 or via this referral form. More information can be found here: Green Doctors London
Cost of living support hubs
Information on the cost-of-living support that is available to residents in Westminster Council and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Westminster City Council
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/cost-living-support-hub
Debt Advice
Worrying about money - https://www.worryingaboutmoney.co.uk/westminster
Interactive ‘money worries’ web form that provides tailored advice and support.
Westminster Citizens Advice - free, confidential and impartial advice on a range of subjects including benefits or grants entitlement. Open weekdays from 10am to 4pm. Virtual drop-in sessions available Mon, Tues and Wednesdays 10am to 11am. Tel: 0808 278 7834 https://www.westminstercab.org.uk/
Turn2Us Benefits Calculator – free and confidential benefits calculator to find out what benefits you are entitled to claim. https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
StepChange – free and expert advice service that helps deal with debt issues. Helpline open Mon-Fri from 8am to 8pm or Saturday from 8am to 4pm on 0800 138 1111 https://www.stepchange.org/
Job and Career advice
Westminster Employment Service (WES) – recruitment service for local residents and businesses. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/jobs/westminster-employment-service
Find a job service - https://www.gov.uk/find-a-job
National Careers Service (NCS) – https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
provides free careers information, training and learning advice and guidance.
Support with rising energy costs
Contact your energy supplier - all energy supplier companies have staff available to talk to review current payments, work out affordable payment plans and arrange for payment breaks.
Thames Water - low income households (earning less than £20,111) can get discounts of up to 50% through its WaterHelp programme. See website for eligibility criteria and application form – https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/financial-support/waterhelp
Priority Services Register – is a free support service that energy suppliers run to help people in vulnerable situations. Apply by contacting your energy supplier.
Switching energy provider e.g.
Big London Energy Switch – residents join a large group of customers and invite energy suppliers bid for your collective contracts https://biglondonenergyswitch.co.uk/landing
London Power – green energy company with electricity generated from 100% renewable sources. https://mylondonpower.com/
Smart Meter - having a Smart Meter installed in your home so you only pay for the energy you use - https://www.smartenergygb.org/
MoneySavingExpert – financial website providing regular updated information on saving costs, finding deals and other useful research. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/energy/
Ofgem – the energy regulator for Great Britain. See website for information and advice on energy supply or to make a complain. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households
National support schemes
Government support - independent, free, anonymous benefits calculator to check what benefits you could be entitled to - https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
Winter Fuel Payment - £100 to £300 payment for older people born on or before 5 October 1954.
Cold Weather Payments - £25 payment for every 7 days of cold weather between November and March. See website for eligibility https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility
Warm Home Discount - £140 discount on energy bills for people on low income / receiving Pension Credit. See website for eligibility https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme
Government Cost of Living Payments – £650 one-off cost of living payment for those on means-tested benefits. Two lump sum tax free payments in July and autumn to people on a range of benefits. Automatically paid to those on certain benefits or tax credits. Guidance can be found on the website - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment
Energy Bill Support Scheme - £400 is available for all households to help with rising energy bills regardless of income or size of house. The discount will be made automatically by the energy supplier. The £400 will be received in 6 instalments in Oct and Nov 2022 and from Dec to March 2023.
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment – one-off £300 tax free payment for households that receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
Disability Cost of Living Payment – a one-off £150 tax free payment will be made in September to people who receive a range of disability benefits.
Local support schemes
Citizens Advice Westminster – can provide support options and information on managing energy bills. Tel: 0808 278 7834 https://www.westminstercab.org.uk/advice/lets-talk-money-project/are-you-struggling-to-pay-your-energy-bills/
Green Doctors – London based charity offering free and impartial energy advice to low income households, over 65s or those with long term health conditions or disabilities. https://london.greendoctors.org.uk/
Discretionary Housing Payment – an extra payment towards rental costs. Means tested. Apply online: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/benefits/apply-discretionary-housing-payment
Local Support Payment for low-income recipients suffering crisis or emergency (comes in the form of quality second –hand furniture, white goods or store vouchers) – Apply online https://www.westminster.gov.uk/benefits/apply-local-support-payment
Westminster Local Hardship Fund (Household support grant extension) – helps households most in need to pay for essentials such as food and utilities. Tel: 0808 278 7834 WLHF@westminstercab.org.uk
Supermarket grocery vouchers – can be obtained as part of the Westminster Local Hardship Fund - https://www.westminstercab.org.uk/advice/westminster-local-hardship-fund-household-support-grant-extension/
Westminster School Uniform Support Scheme – new scheme starts in Sept 22 to help with costs of primary school uniform. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/new-council-funding-school-uniforms
Holiday activities and food programme for children aged 4 to 16 eligible for free school meals during school holidays - https://ourcity.org.uk/haf-programme
Victoria Privilege Card – discount store card scheme https://www.victoriabid.co.uk/privilege-card/current-offers/
Affordable broadband - some broadband providers can offer social tariffs for Westminster residents. Check the handy comparison chart showing offers and eligibility. https://airtable.com/shrPejmyjWsvBttoX/tblR71A2iYOFHEPB8
Food support service
Westminster provides several food support services – Mon-Sat. See council website for details and days of the week available https://www.westminster.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support
Monday
Westminster Chapel food bank – by referral only. Find more information on its website: https://westminsterchapel.org.uk/foodbank/
The SPACE, 214 Freston W10 6TT – community market from 10:30am – 2.30pm https://www.214space.org/ Tel: 0800 047 8161
Tuesday
The SPACE, 214 Freston, W10 6TT - Baby Bank Hub operating from 9.30am – 4pm for families with children upto the age of 5 https://www.214space.org/baby-bank
Tel: 0800 047 8161
Notting Hill Methodist Church (Kensington and Chelsea Foodbank), from 11am to 1pm at 240 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill W11 4AH, Tel: 020 3728 9003.
Voucher is needed from a support agency such as Citizen Advice.
St Michael’s, North Kensington – food provided by WandUK. Registration in advance required either online or in person. Operates from 11am to 4pm at 35 St Lawrence Terrace, W10 5SR, Tel: 020 8962 4132.
Wednesday
North Paddington Food Bank – offer supermarket food vouchers, Phone 07932 623443 on Wednesdays 11am to 4pm and Fridays 11am to 4pm
St Matthew’s Food Bank from 4pm – 6pm, 29 St Petersburgh Place, W2 4LA. Open to all. No voucher or booking required. Coffee and tea also served.
Granville Community Kitchen Food Aid – from 3pm to 4.30pm at the Granville Community Centre, 140 Carlton Vale, London NW6 5HE
North Kensington Community Kitchen – from 11:30am to 1pm at Notting Hill Community Church, 92 Kensington Park Road, W11 2ES. Registration required on arrived.
The Abbey Centre Pantry – weekly subscription of £4.50 for access to food, fresh fruit and vegetables in the value of £15-£20. Operates from 9am to 1pm at The Abbey Centre, 34 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BU
Thursday
Dalgarno Trust – Open to local residents only. Registration required online or in person between 10am to 1pm. Food bags collected from entrance at assigned time between 2.30pm and 6.30pm. 1 Webb Close, Dalgarno Way, W10 5QB.
Westbourne Park Food Pantry – Weekly subscription of £5 to access food. Value of £15-20 from 10am to 1pm and 3.30pm – 5.30pm at Westbourne Park Pantry, Westbourne Park Baptist Church, London W2 5DX
Bay 20 – Providing hot takeaway meals from 2pm to 4pm at 71, St Marks Road, W10 6JG. Tea and coffee available Mon-Fri from 11am to 4pm.
Friday
Notting Hill Methodist Church – Kensington and Chelsea Foodbank from 1pm to 3pm.
Granville Community Kitchen Food Aid – from 4pm – 5.30pm at the Granville Community Centre, 140 Carlton Vale, London NW6 5HE.
The Abbey Centre Pantry – weekly subscription of £4.50 for access to food, fresh fruit and vegetables in the value of £15-£20. Operates from 9am to 1pm at The Abbey Centre, 34 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BU
Westbourne Park Food Pantry – from 10am to 1pm at Westbourne Park Pantry, Westbourne Park Baptist Church, London W2 5DX
North Paddington Food Bank – offer supermarket food vouchers, Phone 07932 623443 on Wednesdays 11am to 4pm and Fridays 11am to 4pm
Saturday
The SPACE – serving hot food from 12:30pm to 2pm
Venture Centre – Registration required between 12pm-2pm. Collection at assigned timeslot from 3pm-4pm at Venture Centre, Faraday House, 103a Wornington Road, W10 5YB
- Mental health and wellbeing support and advice
Every mind matters – expert advice and practical tips for better mental health and wellbeing. https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/
Good Thinking - https://www.good-thinking.uk/ – a digital wellbeing service that gives 24/7 access to a range of digital mental health apps and other resources for Londoners. Free NHS approved apps. Apps include:
Tomo App – helps build healthy habits to improve wellbeing and handle challenges.
Meditainment – access to guided meditations and visualisation techniques.
Be Mindful App – online mindfulness course to help reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
Westminster Talking Therapies (IAPT) – provide a range of talking therapies for people 18 years and over who are feeling anxious and worried, or down and depressed. Service is provided via self-referral – Tel: 030 3333 0000 or referral by GP / Healthcare Professional. https://talkingtherapies.cnwl.nhs.uk/westminster
The Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/ Tel: 0330 094 5717 or freephone 116 123 provides 24/7
The Listening Place – https://listeningplace.org.uk/ Tel: 020 3906 7676 operates from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday. Offering a free, confidential and ongoing face to face support for people with suicidal feelings
Mental Health Hubs – GPs referrals – No self-referrals
North Westminster community mental health team hub and the
South Westminster community mental health hub.
The Single Point of Access - open 24/7, 365 days a year. Tel: 0800 0234 650 or email cnw-tr.spa@nhs.net. The Single Point of Access provides one number and one email address for referrals to secondary mental health services and support in a mental health crisis in the Boroughs of Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster.
