Cost of Living Tool Kit
Helping you navigate through the current cost of living crisis WALLCHART INSIDE Get Involved & Get Creative
• Help & Advice
• Money Saving Tips
• How to Budget
Getting through the cost of living crisis
We understand, that with the rise in inflation, your household bills have increased.
We have developed this useful tool kit to help you consider options which may help you to navigate the times ahead.
Inside this Guide:
Helpful tips and advice, people you can contact, money saving activities the whole household can get involved with!
How we can help Welfare Team
The Welfare Team have dedicated advisers that can assist you with budgeting, benefit checks, funding, affordability, employment and training advice.
Please email: welfare@fairhive.co.uk or contact 01296 732600
Hardship Fund
If you’re having financial difficulty in sustaining your home, you may be eligible to apply to our Hardship Fund for assistance. We may be able to offer help with options such as energy and food vouchers, white goods, and carpets.
Please email welfare@fairhive.co.uk for more information.
Community Hub
Our Community Hub is a regular drop-in event that is open for anyone in the community.
We have agencies who attend each week to provide support and advice on housing, employment, training, wellbeing and qualifications.
Hub
Located at the Vineyard, Gatehouse Close, Aylesbury, HP19 8DN
Every Tuesday morning from 9.45am until 12pm.
GatehouseClose
BrooksMews
A418OxfordRoad
BearBrook
Aylesbury
How we can help
Boost Your Potential
Chat to us about your career prospects and we can refer you for a free short career coaching short course. This coaching programme is offered annually for our residents. Please email us hello@fairhive.co.uk to register your interest.
SCAN the QR code to visit the webpage
Talk to the Energy Saving Experts
We love working with LEAP because they are so passionate about helping everyone to save energy and find more cost effective solutions for running your home.
Find out how to apply on the LEAP website: www.applyforleap.org.uk
Cost of living support from the Government.
This includes income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel.
Check out the Gov website for more information: www.gov.uk/cost-of-living
Help & Advice
SCAN the QR codes to visit the websites
Mind - for mental health support www.mind.org.uk
Money Supermarket - for deals from a number of suppliers all in one place www.moneysupermarket.com
Citizens Advice Bucksfor debt support citizensadvicebucks.org.uk
National Debtline - get advice today about managing your debts www.nationaldebtline.org
Home insurance
Are you aware that the National Housing Federation (NHF) run a discounted scheme for social housing tenants?
The scheme protects the contents of your home and includes accidental damage.
For more information visit: www.thistletenants-scotland.co.uk
Grants & Funding
Government Benefits for you - check which benefits and financial support you can get www.gov.uk/check-benefits-financial-support
Struggling with Debt
Do you owe money which is causing concern? Bailiffs or credit card bills?
We have partnered with Citizens Advice who can assist you with debt advice and debt solutions.
Please contact our Welfare Team at welfare@fairhive.co.uk or 01296 732600 for a referral.
Heart of Bucks - more information about funding available to people in Bucks www.heartofbucks.org/apply-for-a-grant
Thomas Hickman Charity - financial grants available for residents of Aylesbury www.thomashickmancharity.co.uk/charity-application
Turn to us - Nationwide charity database with Grants Search tools. www.turn2us.org.uk/Get-Support
SCAN the QR codes to visit the websites
People you can contact
Furnishing your Home
If you have moved into a new home and are struggling to furnish it due to financial hardship, you could consider:
Facebook Marketplace
Using your own Facebook account
Freecycle www.freecycle.org/town/AylesburyUK
Vineyard Storehouse
Referral required, please contact our Welfare Team on: Email: welfare@fairhive.co.uk Tel: 01296 732600.
Charity furniture shops
Most will do a delivery service.
Foodbanks
If you are struggling to purchase food due to financial hardship, please contact our Welfare Team email welfare@fairhive.co.uk or call 01296 732600 for a foodbank voucher referral to use the following:
Vineyard: open Tuesdays and Saturdays 10am until 12pm.
Trussell foodbanks: in Aylesbury and Wendover.
Southcourt Baptist Church
Bridge the Gap by appointment only. Weekdays from 9.30am - 12.30pm.
Brackley foodbank:
This service is based on a voucher system. You can contact the team by email for more information: enquiries@brackleyfoodbank.org
Chinnor Sharing Life Trust: www.sharinglifetrust.org/ foodbank
Milton Keynes MK Food Bank: www.mkfoodbank.org.uk/
High Wycombe One Can Trust: www.onecantrust.org.uk/
Helping Hand
Buckinghamshire Council administer the Household Support Grant.
This Grant is used to help households in financial hardship. This could be white goods, carpeting, rent and council tax arrears.
Bucks Helping Hand www.buckinghamshire.gov. uk/cost-of-living/contacthelping-hand/
Tel: 01296 531151.
Water assistance
To apply for a grant online : www.buckinghamshire.gov. uk/housing-and-benefits/ support-with-food-billsand-finances
Slough: www.slough.gov.uk/ benefits-support/ household-support-fund
Northants: www.northnorthants.gov. uk/benefits/householdsupport-fund
Milton Keynes: www.milton-keynes.gov. uk/benefits/householdsupport-fund
South Oxfordshire: www.southoxon.gov.uk/ south-oxfordshire-districtcouncil/cost-of-living-crisisadvice-and-support/
If you are on a low income you may be eligible for assistance with your service provider and claim a discount off your bill.
Apply for Thames WaterSure
www.thameswater.co.uk/ help/account-and-billing/ financial-support/waterhelp
Apply for Anglian WATERLITE
www.anglianwater.co.uk/ account-and-bill/tariffsand-charges/lite/
Not sure who your water supplier is?
Use this website to find out who they are and check if they have a discount scheme: www.water.org.uk/ advice-for-customers/ find-your-supplier/
Budgeting made easy
This handy financial planner can make it simpler to calculate your budget and keep an eye on your income and expenditure. Look for items that you may be able to cut back on or switch suppliers using comparison sites.
www.comparethemarket.com
www.moneysupermarket.com
www.gocompare.com
www.moneysavingexpert.com
Use our A3 wallchart to get creative with budgeting - fold it out, stick it up and use The Big Household Savings Tracker now to discover ways to cut costs and save money to help with the rising cost of living.
Challenge your household to see who can save the most money over a four week period.
Share your stories using: #BigHouseholdSavingsTracker
BUDGET SHEET
This budget sheet can be used to help you maintain your rent and household bills.
A: Income (weekly/monthly)
(partner)
My total income
B: My total outgoings
A - B = C C:
If this number is in minus figures, check out our tips on the wall planner included in this toolkit to help you cut costs with your spending or contact our Welfare Team for support: welfare@fairhive.co.uk