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Cost of living support

Help and support available in Rutland if you're struggling with bills and the rising cost of living

We have a Crisis Fund if you have no money for gas, electricity or food. The Fund is managed by Citizens Advice Rutland. If you need help urgently, please visit the Citizens Advice website or call 01572 723 494 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

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Can you give something back to your community? There are lots of volunteering opportunities in Rutland for people who’d like to do something to help others - find out more on Rutland's Volunteeer Plus website.

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Support available

Help for Households

To help UK households, the government has published lots of information that can help you with rising household costs and bills on the Help for Households website.

You can find information on the Help for Households website about:

  • household costs
  • help with energy
  • help with childcare costs
  • Income Support
  • help with transport costs
  • help finding work
  • discounts and offers

Help with utility bills

Ofgem

The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is the government regulator for the electricity and gas markets in Great Britain. 

Your energy supplier can help if you are having difficulties with your gas and electric bills. You can get other grants and benefits too.

Visit Ofgem's website to learn more

Age UK

Grants, benefits and advice are available to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills. For further advice on these support measures, visit the Age UK website or call 0800 169 6565 and quote ‘WINTER’.

Energy Saving Trust

Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation – working to address the climate emergency. You can find lots of general energy and money saving advice on the Trust’s website.

Severn Trent Water

The Severn Trent Water’s ‘Big Difference Scheme’ can offer a reduction on water bills to any Severn Trent customer with a household income below £16,480. 

Find out more online by visiting the Severn Trent website.

British Gas Energy Trust

The British Gas Energy Trust is not just for British Gas customers.

If you’re facing bills you can’t afford and are struggling with the rising cost of energy, The British Gas Energy Trust can help.

They are an independent charitable trust set up to support families and individuals facing financial hardship and energy debt. 

Find out more by visiting the British Gas Energy Trust website.

Anglian Water

Anglian Water’s Priority Service Register provides free practical support to a range of people who might need extra help because of age, ill health or disability. 

This includes families with young children or those with caring responsibilities. 

You can find out more on the Anglian Water Priority Service website.

Anglian Water can also provide financial assistance through their Extra Care Support if you’re struggling to pay your water bill. 

You can receive help with everything from managing payments to debt. 

To complete an Extra Care Assessment, visit the Anglian Water website or call their specially trained team on 0800 232 1951.

Help for Households

Please check the Government’s national Help for Households website for more information getting help with about energy bills and other household costs.

Help for Households

Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF)

This scheme provides £400 for energy bills to eligible household.

The funding is from government and is administered by local authorities.

The scheme is open until 31 May 2023.

Eligibility

People who may be able to receive support include:

  • care home residents
  • those living in care facilities and sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded)
  • park home, houseboats and caravan residents who can provide proof of address
  • social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply
  • homes on a heat network or private wire
  • off-grid homes
  • farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes

How to apply

If you're eligible, you can apply online at GOV.UK.

Those without internet access can apply by calling: 0808 1753 287

Applications are made directly to the government, not local authorities. It may take up to 30 days or longer to process your application.

If your application is successful, your details will be shared with us and we will make a payment into your bank account. This will be a single instalment.

Libraries, free WiFi and keeping warm

Rutland Libraries have free public computers and free WiFi for you to use. Just ask our staff to get you started.

Rutland Libraries are also acting as Warm Hubs if you can’t heat your home and need somewhere to go. 

It’s free to join your local library and we’re open regularly throughout the week.

Library opening times

Please check to see when you're local library is open before paying us a visit.

Oakham Library (Catmos Street)

  • Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
  • Saturdays: 9am to 1pm

Uppingham Library (Queen Street)

  • Tuesdays and Fridays: 9am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 5pm
  • Wednesdays: 1.30pm to 5pm
  • Saturdays: 9am to 1pm

Ketton Library (High Street)

  • Wednesdays and Fridays: 9am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 5pm
  • Saturdays: 9am to 1pm

Ryhall Library (Coppice Road)

  • Mondays and Thursdays: 9am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 5pm
  • Tuesdays: 2pm to 4.30pm (volunteer-led)
  • Fridays: 2pm to 4pm (volunteer-led)
  • Saturdays: 9am to 1pm 

More information about local libraries

Places of worship

These places of worship in Rutland are also acting as Warm Spaces during the winter months:

  • Empingham Methodist Church (Main Street), 2pm to 4pm every Monday
  • Oakham Baptist Church (Melton Road), 2.00pm to 5pm every Friday
  • St Joseph's Catholic Church (Station Road, Oakham), 2pm to 5pm every Monday (from 9 January 2023)
  • St Peter's Church Empingham (Crocket Lane), 10.30am to 4pm every Wednesday
  • Uppingham Methodist Church (Orange Street),  10am to 12pm every Monday and Wednesday

Find Warm Spaces outside of Rutland

Advice and support

If you can’t get to a local library and need help, please get in touch with Citizens Advice Rutland by calling: 01572 723 494

Prevent money problems

If you're in debt or struggling with money, don't worry. There are lots of specialist services offering expert advice.

Citizens Advice

Approved advice on debt, budgeting, housing, employment, family issues and community care. 

Go to: citizensadvicerutland.org.uk or call: 01572 723 494 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Clockwise Credit Union

Safe savings and affordable loans. 

Go to clockwise.coop or email hello@clockwise.coop any time and receive a response within 24 hours, Monday to Friday. 

Whether you are in work or on benefits, Clockwise considers all circumstances.

National Debtline

A charity that gives free and independent debt advice over the phone and online. 

They can help with budgeting and dealing with high energy bills. 

Go to: nationaldebtline.org or call freephone: 0808 808 4000

MoneyHelper

Help people to clear their debts, reduce spending and make the most of their income. 

They can also help to plan ahead for major purchases, find out about entitlements, build up savings and grow pensions. 

Go to: moneyhelper.org.uk or call: 0800 011 3797

Turn2us

Helps people to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help. 

This includes benefits, grants and other schemes that can help with energy and water bills. Go to: turn2us.org.uk

Stop Loan Sharks

Investigates and prosecutes illegal money lenders and provides support for borrowers in the UK. 

If you have borrowed from a loan shark or are worried about someone else, they can help. 

Go to: stoploansharks.co.uk or call: 0300 555 2222 to safely report a Loan Shark.

StepChange

A charity that provides free, confidential and expert debt advice and money guidance. 

They will recommend the best solution or service for your circumstances and support you while you deal with your money worries, for as long as you need help. 

Go to: stepchange.org or call: 0800 138 1111 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm.

Help with food

There are groups in Rutland who can help you if you're struggling with cost of food or finding it difficult to feed your family.

Rutland Foodbank

Rutland Foodbank can provide an emergency food and toiletries pack for people who are struggling to afford food. 

Please contact Citizens Advice on: 01572 723 494. They can help with a referral or foodbank voucher.

You can also speak to a support worker about using the Rutland Foodbank, if you have one.

Rutland Community Fridge

Rutland Community Fridge shares surplus food from local supermarkets to reduce food waste and help people.

Food is free to anyone who wants it.

Fridge locations

Fridges are open at:

Oakham Station building (Station Approach)

  • Friday from 10am to 11.30am

Uppingham Town Hall (North Street East)

  • Friday from 1.30pm to 3pm

Mental health support

There are a number of local services that you can contact for advice and support on mental health.

Non-urgent support

These non-urgent mental health services are available if you need some support for your mental health. 

You can also contact your local GP if you need non-urgent mental health support.

Every Mind Matters

Public Health England's Every Mind Matters website has tips and advice to help you look after your mental health. It can help get you started with an NHS online plan, showing you simple steps to help deal with stress, boost your mood and feel on top of things. 

VitaMinds

Vita Health Group works with the NHS to provide mental wellbeing services to support local residents in Leicestershire and Rutland.

VitaMinds is a free talking therapy service designed to support individuals by providing the tools needed to get things back on track. 

Visit VitaMinds for Rutland

Urgent support 

Urgent support means you need help with your mental health now.

Mental Health Central Access Point

Everyone in Rutland can get access to free round-the-clock urgent mental health phone support through the NHS.  

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) has merged its 24-hour all-age central access point service with Turning Point’s freephone crisis helpline for adults. Just call: 0808 800 3302

Crisis Cafes

Crisis Cafes are part of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s local support for people who need immediate help with their mental health. 

The cafes are drop in centres for anyone to come and talk about their mental health – no appointment needed.

Emergency support

If you have an emergency where there is a physical threat to life, you must call 999 straight away.

Start a Conversation

Every life lost to suicide matters and can affect the mental health of so many people within the community. Start a Conversation is committed to building a community that supports the mental health and wellbeing of people across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.

Families with children

Free school meals

Free school meals are available to all children in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2. 

They are also available to children whose parents or guardians receive certain benefits. 

Find out if you are eligible for free school meals and apply online.

More about getting help with food

Holiday Activities and Food programme

Rutland County Council has organised a two-week Holiday Activities and Food programme, which includes a variety of activities and challenges to keep children entertained during the Christmas Holidays. Places are free for children and young people who are eligible for free school meals.

Learn more and book a place

Free childcare

Most children aged three or four can get an extra 15 hours of funded early education and childcare. 

When this is added to your universal entitlement of 15 hours, your total amount of free early education and childcare could be as much as 30 hours a week. 

You can find the right childcare offer for you on the Childcare Choices website.

ParkPlay Sessions

Uppingham ParkPlay is a two-hour long play session of fun and games for everyone starting at 9.30am every Saturday morning. 

ParkPlay provides FREE activities to help people meet, move and play with others in their local community. 

Find out more about ParkPlay

Help for Households

Get more cost of living help and advice through the UK Government's Help for Households website.

Warm and well

Cold weather can make health problems worse and even lead to serious complications. 

The cold is particularly dangerous to people who are aged 65 or older, as well as those with a long-term health condition.

Find out how to stay well in winter, with information and advice from the NHS.

Stay well in winter

Help with prescriptions & health costs

Help with Council Tax

If you’re struggling to pay your Council Tax bill then please get in touch. 

We know it’s difficult for families right now and want to help if we can. 

Don’t ignore reminder letters about your Council Tax. If you can’t pay, please contact us so we can talk through your options. 

Email: localtaxation@rutland.gov.uk or call: 01572 722 577.

Armed forces

Here you can find information about the support that's available to members of the British Armed Forces, whether you're a veteran or still serving.

Royal British Legion grants

The Royal British Legion has launched a grant scheme for veterans and their families who are struggling to pay their energy bills. The initiative will provide non-repayable emergency grants of up to £2,400 a year (£200 a month), and is available across the UK.

Apply for a grant online or call the Royal British Legion on 0808 802 8080.

SSAFA the Armed Forces Charity

SSAFA is an Armed Forces charity that offers welfare, health and support services for the UK military’s serving personnel, veterans, and their families. 

This includes financial planning support and help for ex-forces with financial problems. 

Visit the SSAFA website to get help or call: 0800 260 6767 from 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Veterans’ Gateway

Veterans’ Gateway supports veterans and their families to find the help they need.

Advisors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling: 0808 802 1212

They refer people to those best placed to provide support with issues like housing, employment and finances. 

Forces Connect App

Forces Connect is a free app for smartphones and tablets. 

It helps serving members of the Armed Forces and Veterans to access local services, including family support, care, benefits, crisis support and help with housing or homelessness. 

Warmer homes

There are local services in Rutland who can help to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your heating bills.

Energy efficiency

You can find information on making your home more energy efficiency on our Energy efficiency page.

Warmer Homes programme

The Warmer Homes programme can offer fully funded measures such as insulation, air source heat pumps and solar panels to eligible households. 

If your home is on-gas, funding of up to £10,000 could be available. 

If your home is off-gas, funding of up to £25,000 could be available. 

Visit the Warmer Homes website for more information or call: 0800 038 5737

Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP)

Rutland’s Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) is a free energy and money saving service. It can help you stay warm and reduce energy bills. 

Visit the LEAP website or call: 0800 060 7567 to see if you’re eligible.

Housing and homelessness

If you’re struggling to pay your rent or may be at risk of losing your home, please seek advice and support as quickly as possible. 

This could be done through your landlord or mortgage lender. 

If you already know that you are going to be made homeless within the next 56 days, please contact our Housing Options Team by calling: 01572 758 157 or emailing: housingoptions@rutland.gov.uk

You can also go to the Citizens Advice Rutland website for information.

Help for businesses

It's important to seek help and advice if you own or operate a business that's struggling due to the rising cost of living.

Federation of Small Businesses

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has launched a finance hub to support businesses looking for all kinds of finance. Take a look at their website for details

The FSB also knows how lonely business can be and so offers a range of networking/webinar options to help all businesses come together with their peers. 

These events are free and there’s no need to be an FSB member.

FSB Events

Energy Bill Relief Scheme

The Government has introduced an Energy Bill Relief Scheme

that will provide energy bill relief for non-domestic customers in Great Britain. Discounts will be applied to energy usage initially between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023. 

Find out more

Mental health support

This is a difficult time for employers and employees affected by the impacts of the energy costs crisis. 

Workforce Matters have released several resources to help keep mental wellbeing in check – these can be downloaded from the Business Lincolnshire website via the mental health support page.

Mental health support

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a benefit for working aged people who are on a low income or out of work. It replaces a number of other benefits, including Housing Benefit. 

For more information and to find out if you’re eligible, visit the government's Universal Credit website.

You can also contact the Help to Claim service on 0800 144 8444 or visit the Citizens Advice Rutland website for more information.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. 

Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges. There are a number of ways to claim Pension Credit.

Claim online

If you already claim a State Pension and there are no children or young people included in your claim, you can apply for Pension Credit online.

Claim by phone

Call the Pension Credit claim line on: 0800 99 1234

They will fill in the application for you over the phone.

Pension Credit also has a textphone number: 0800 169 0133

More information

You can also find out more about Pension Credit online by visiting the national GOV.UK website.

Rutland Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund is a grant that’s given to councils in England, so they can provide direct support to those who need it most. 

This could be through small payments to support vulnerable households with daily living costs such as food, and utility bills. 

The Household Support Fund has been extended to March 2023. 

More information about the support available in Rutland and who’s eligible to claim will be shared online soon.

Visit our Household Support Fund page

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