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’
Too Good to go – Discounted surprise bags of food, which would be thrown away, are available on the ‘Too good to go’ app https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-gb/user
Baby Banks – Listed on www.netmums.com/local/baby-banks
Pregnancy and Baby Freebies – https://babyessentialslist.co.uk/pregnancy-freebies-free-baby-stuff-samples/ This site has a helpful list of free samples etc. for babies.
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 www.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, 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. Each water company may have their own criteria for qualification and may also offer other schemes to families who are struggling to pay bills.
To qualify for Watersure, 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 – www.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 – 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
StepChange – Debt advice charity giving impartial and confidential debt advice www.stepchange.org
Turn2us – Includes a benefits calculator and grants search:
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 www.dspuk.org.uk/cystic-fibrosis
PIP Claim – 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
Families First – is a government scheme run by local council authorities for Families experiencing or at risk of worklessness, homelessness or financial difficulties, or young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and Parents and children with health needs relating to mental health and/ or substance use. Parents or children involved in, or at risk of involvement in, crime or anti-social behaviour and Families affected by domestic violence and abuse. Ask for assistance from your social worker to see if you could qualify for help through this scheme.
Samaritans Free Telephone Line 116 123
Mental Health
Mens Sheds – Men’s Sheds encourage people to come together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in their local communities. Improving wellbeing, reducing loneliness and combatting social isolation menssheds.org.uk
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 www.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. www.cfwarriors.org.uk
CF Trust – Large National charity www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk
