A guide to further help:
Food:
The Trussell Trust have over 1,300 food bank centres. They also offer debt advice, mental health support, or benefits guidance. – www.trusselltrust.org/
Local Foodbanks – Many areas have local independent food banks. Search ‘foodbank near me’
Baby Banks – Listed on www.netmums.com/local/baby-banks
Your social worker can refer you to a local foodbank. CF Care can make referrals to the Trussell Trust.
Energy:
Local Council Help: Your local council might be able to help you get a fuel voucher towards your energy costs.
Which Guide – Under the Government’s ECO scheme, it is possible that you could qualify for a grant to have your old inefficient boiler replaced free of charge. Grants are available to households in receipt of certain qualifying benefits including Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credits, Universal Credits, Disabled, Attendance Allowance, and Carer’s Allowance, so long as your boiler is overdue for replacement.www.which.co.uk/reviews/boilers/article/buying-a-new-boiler/boiler-grants-can-i-get-a-free-boiler
National Energy Action: information, advice and help nea.org.uk/get-help/
Government schemes – Through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler.www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme
You could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme – www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme, if you either:
- get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- are on a low income gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills
If you’re struggling to pay for your energy and you’re on certain benefits, you may be able to pay directly from your benefit payments instead, under a Government scheme known as Fuel Direct www.gov.uk/bills-benefits
The benefits that can be used are:
- Universal Credit
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
www.gov.uk/government/collections/find-energy-grants-for-you-home-help-to-heat
Water:
If you have a water meter, it may also be possible to get a reduced or capped bill through the national WaterSure scheme, available through all water companies.
To qualify, you (or someone living with you) must be receiving at least one eligible benefit AND have either three or more children under the age of 19 in full-time education, or have a medical condition that means you use extra water. www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/cut-water-bills/#watersure
Council Tax:
Apply to your local council for Council Tax Reduction (sometimes called Council Tax Support). You’ll get a discount on your bill if you are eligible.
Free or cheap second-hand items:
The Reuse Network -Search for a reuse charity near you with the online tool – reuse-network.org.uk/
Freecycle – You can advertise for items wanted and see what is on offer – www.freecycle.org/
Freegle – similar to freecycle – www.ilovefreegle.org/
Gumtree – www.gumtree.com/
Preloved – www.preloved.co.uk/
Facebook Marketplace although beware of scammers and never pay anything upfront.
Advice:
NHS Useful information – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cystic-fibrosis/
Citizen’s Advice Bureau – As well as offices throughout the country, they also have an online help facility www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Money saving expert – This site has lots of useful money saving advice www.moneysavingexpert.com/
Turn2us – Includes a benefits calculator and grants search – https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/ https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
Disability Support project – can help with benefit applications, appeals and tribunals for CDLA – Child Disability Living Allowance. PIP – Personal Independence Payment. ESA – Employment and Support Allowance. Blue Badge – Disabled Parking, Appointeeships, AA – Attendance Allowance https://www.dspuk.org.uk/cystic-fibrosis
PIP Claim – https://www.gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim. Always ask for assistance from your CF Team or social worker as you will need a medical letter to support your PIP claim
CF Charities:
Cystic Fibrosis Care – providing patient support in times of difficulty, contact your CF Team, to be referred.
Cystic Fibrosis Comfort Fund – A Bristol based charity helping people with CF within a 50 mile radius cfcomfort.co.uk/
CF Dream Holidays – Charity which provides respite holidays in the UK for families who have a child with Cystic Fibrosis.www.cfdreamholidays.co.uk/
CF Warriors – Parents can apply for their child to receive a ‘CF Warrior Pack’, and become part of a team that aim to stay fit and healthy. https://www.cfwarriors.org.uk/
CF Trust – Large National charity