Information on budget and debt advice and financial support can be found below:

Budget and debt advice

  • Benefits calculator– use the independent benefits calculator to find out what benefits you may be eligible for and how to claim.
  • Community Money Advice - a national charity with local centres committed to supporting people overcome their money problems.

Citizens Advice - Get Help Managing Money Leaflet

Citizens Advice have created a Get Help Managing Money leaflet that contains a lot of useful information and contacts for residents looking for help and advice on how to manage their money better. You can read/download the leaflet below:

Help to Claim

Help to Claim is a dedicated service from Citizens Advice for Leicestershire residents. It’s free, independent and confidential.

They offer support to clients from starting a new Universal Credit claim through to the first full payment.

The service includes an individual needs assessment to help them identify the type of support that’s right for each client.

Their trained advisers can check eligibility for payments, support with completion of the application and prepare for the first Job Centre appointment.

Visit the Help to Claim website

Financial support

  • Cost of Living Payments - you may be able to get a payment to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits. The Government has recently announced when further cost of living payments will be made between spring 2023 and spring 2024. This includes:
    • Pensioner Cost of Living Payment - a £300 payment that will be paid to all pensioner households across the UK.
    • Disability Cost of Living Payment - a £150 payment for those on an eligible UK disability benefit.
    • Cost of Living Payment - up to £900 for people on an eligible low income benefit.
  • Household Support Fund (LCC) – the Household Support Fund closes for applications on Monday November 13, 2023 at 5pm. It will re-open in early 2024. Details will be shared on this webpage when it is live. Funding has been provided by the Government to local authorities to support families with children and individuals most in need. 
  • Energy Bills Support Scheme - households in England will receive a £400 discount to help with the cost of their energy bill from October onwards.
  • Universal Credit - Universal Credit is a new benefit for working age people who are on a low income or out of work.
  • Personal Independence Payment - help with extra living costs if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and find it difficult doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition.
  • Carers Allowance -  financial support for those who care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.
  • Clockwise Credit Union - a fair, responsible and people focused credit union, providing a range of financial products and services to the local communities of Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland.
  • Stop Loan Sharks - investigates and prosecutes illegal money lenders and provides support for borrowers in the UK.
  • Mountsorrel Community Support Fund - The Mountsorrel Community Support Fund helps residents of Mountsorrel who find themselves in need, hardship or distress. To apply, visit the website or contact their Community Support Fund Coordinator by phone or email: Tel. 07931 129360. Email. .

People are being urged to check if they are eligible for pension credit as up to 880,000 households across the UK may be missing out on support worth on average over £3,900 a year. It also opens doors to other support, including the Winter Fuel Payment, help with housing costs, council tax and heating bills.   

Utilities

  • Help paying your water bill - many water companies run hardship schemes or fund independent charitable trusts which can help you pay your bills.

RSPCA cost of living hub for pet owners

The RSPCA is committed to ensuring that animals do not pay the price of the cost-of-living crisis.

They have launched a new cost-of-living hub to provide advice and support for struggling pet owners. It’s constantly being updated with signposts to pet food banks, advice and support for vet bills, information about pet insurance, and tonnes of other resources.

Visit the RSPCA Cost of Living Hub

Discounts and offers

Find out what offers are available from businesses to help with the cost of living. There's a range of different businesses to help with groceries, retail, entertainment and utilities on the Help for Households website.

Too Good To Go app – Less Waste

Globally, more than a third of food is wasted – and that’s bad news for our planet. Food waste is responsible for 10% of greenhouse gases and we use a landmass the size of China to produce the food we end up throwing away.

Too Good to Go is an anti-food waste app which lets customers rescue delicious, unsold food from businesses to save it from going to waste.

For Businesses

  1. When you have surplus food, you list it on the App as a Magic Bag
  2. Customers search for Magic Bags near them, then pre-pay through the app
  3. At the time you set, customers collect their Magic Bags from your business
  4. You win back sunk costs, help the planet and increase your business visibility

Less waste – More profit.

Sign up

For Customers

  • Explore the stores - Save Magic Bags filled with surplus food from local restaurants, cafes and stores
  • Get ready for a surprise - Stores can’t know exactly what will be left at the end of the day, so what you get in your Magic Bag is always a surprise
  • Reserve and be on time - Find a Magic Bag you’d like to save and reserve it in the app. Check the specified collection time and make sure to be there on time
  • Collect and celebrate - At the store, show the staff your order details in the app and then swipe the order to collect your Magic Bag.

Loughborough businesses already on the app

  • 40 Cha Taiwanese Bubble Tea – Magic Bag: £4.69 (worth £11) between 6.30-7pm
  • Costa Coffee – Magic Bag: £3.00 between 4-5pm
  • Oodles Chinese – Magic Bag: £4.99 between 11-11.20pm
  • Muffin Break – Magic Bag: £3.99 between 4.30-5pm
  • Starbucks (Sainsburys) – Magic Bag: £3.59 between 7-7.30pm
  • Morrisons Café – Cakes & Sandwiches: £2.99 (worth £9.00) between 5.30–6pm
  • Morrisons – Groceries: £3.09 (worth £10) between 5-9pm
  • Greggs (Allendale Road) – Magic Bag: £2.59 (worth £8.00) between 7.30-8pm
  • Toby Carvery – Vegetarian Carvery: £2.29 (worth £5.54) between 9-9.30pm
  • Co-op – Groceries: £4.00 (worth £12) between 9-9.45pm
  • Kater 4 – Magic Bag: £4.99 (worth £15) between 2.45-3.55pm

Visit the Too Good to Go website

Last updated: Fri 23rd August, 2024 @ 14:11