Your Services Working Together For You

We know times are hard right now. On this page you will find links to support and advice that is new, that is already available from us, and that is available from a range of other agencies too, to support you with the cost of living.

 Download this "Working Together...for you" Business Card for a summary of useful contacts numbers if times are a little tough
to share with your family, friends, and neighbours.
You can also pick up a card from the councils Customer Service Centre, Libraries, community centres and via partners.

You can also get more help from the Government's Help for Households campaign website.

Contents

• For utility bills and energy costs
• Help to access and secure employment
• Don’t miss out on benefits you may be entitled to
• If you have children
• For other household costs like food and furniture
• Housing Advice.
• For medical costs
• If you have debt concerns
• If you live with a disability
• Support if you are a carer
• Support for people aged 50 plus
• Support for people under aged 25
• Looking for a warm space?
• General Support and Signposting

For utility bills and energy costs

• Worcestershire Household Support Fund scheme. You may be eligible for help towards your energy bills, energy debt, boiler repairs and more through the scheme being delivered via Act on Energy
• Act on Energy deliver our Redditch Energy Advice Service, giving free impartial advice to help cut energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, energy saving measures, independent advice on technologies and how to avoid scams. Freephone 0800 988 288.
• Look at social tariff broadband and mobile phone offers
• Check if you can get Severn Trent's support to pay your water bill.
• Check if you are eligible for a TV Licensing Simple Payment Plan.
• Warmer Worcestershire - Information available, includes reliable hints and tips on how to reduce your energy bills.

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Help to access and secure employment

• Get help and support to access benefits, gain new skills/qualifications and valuable experiences to help secure employment from organisations from the People & Skills project funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Don’t miss out on benefits you may be entitled to

• If you’re of working age, check you’re not missing out on any state benefits
• If you’re of pension age, check if you can get Pension Credit
• Check if you can get help to pay your Council Tax, through Council Tax Support and Council Tax discounts
• For help with your rent, check if you can get Housing Benefit and a Discretionary Housing Payment
• If you are sick or disabled, check if you can get any disability or sickness benefits
• If you are a carer, check if you can get Carer’s Allowance
• Browse the other services in the Money, education & skills section of our website, which are regularly updated.

If you have children

• Check if you can get help with childcare costs. free school meals including holiday provision, and much more.

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For other household costs like food and furniture

• Cut your food costs with advice from Love Food Hate Waste
• See our Essential Living Fund for emergency help in a financial crisis
• Help with food, furniture, foodbanks and household supplies

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Housing advice

If you are behind on your rent or mortgage, think you're going to get behind, you don't have to struggle in silence. Help and support is available.

• Rent or mortgage going up? Speak to money and debt advice services including at Citizens Advice.

For medical costs

• Check if you can get free prescriptions.

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If you have debt concerns

• If you rent your home from us and you are struggling to pay your rent, please speak to us early. As your landlord we can help you to prevent a problem from growing into a crisis.
• Here is a range of debt advice and financial support services.

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If you live with a disability

• Support if you live with a disability

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Support if you are a carer

• Get specialist support if you are a carer

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Help for people aged 50 plus

• Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest - Free and confidential advise for people over 50
• Call 01527 570490 or email enquiries@ageukbrwf.org.uk

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Help for people under the age of 25

• Information and advice can be found here

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General Support and Signposting

• Bromsgrove and Redditch Knowledge Bank - Explore and uncover local services nearest to you.
• Community Services Directory - access information, advice, tools, guidance and local support available to them or others in the local community based on their needs.
• Would you like a FREE Home Fire Safety Check from your local Fire and Rescue team? It includes free smoke alarms and more for those who are eligible.
• Inspire Support Services is an award winning support centre in Winyates, Redditch, helping the community with a range of support services.
• NewStarts-Redditch Project on the Abbey Retail Park offers a range of support services and shares their space with other local charities, social enterprises and community groups including a Baby Bank, the Redditch Uniform Bank, the Worcestershire nappy library, Spikes Bikes and the Healing Horse Sanctuary.
• Old Needle Works Foundation is a community hub of wellbeing offering Mental Health and Wellbeing guidance in the heart of Redditch, Worcestershire
• Onside advocacy offers help to people facing disadvantage to ensure they are treated fairly as equal citizens, with equal rights and have access to all the right services.
• StreetLink - help end rough sleeping by enabling members of the public to connect people sleeping rough with local services that can support them.
• Support with mental health and wellbeing
• Worcestershire Libraries - Your local library can provide signposting and referral along with internet/wifi access.

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Looking for a warm space?

Many local organisations that have opened free, warm, welcoming spaces for the public over this winter have registered the details of their offer on the Warm Welcome Network so that anyone can search for local warm spaces in their area. All 21 libraries in the county are registered as a warm space. There is lots going on at libraries which offer free use of computers, free Wi-Fi, free events for all ages and much more. Additional information from Worcestershire County Council can be found here

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