Cost of Living Information
Welcome to our Cost of Living resources page. This is where you will find links to websites and workbooks that can provide help and advice with money, debt and staying warm.
National Databank – Free SIMS for people on low incomes
Like a foodbank but for mobile data, the National Databank provides free mobile SIM cards for people who can’t access the internet. It is run by the Good Things Foundation but is partnered with O2.
To find out if you are eligible, please visit any O2 store. You can find your nearest store by clicking on the O2 website link below.
To find out more about the scheme, this is the O2 website link here: National Databank | Free Mobile Data, Minutes & Calls
You can also visit the Good Things Foundation here.
Good Food For All Kirklees- Interactive Map
Good Food For All Kirklees admin team have developed an interactive map with over 40 community food projects listed. So if you’re looking for local free or low-cost food please head over to https://goodfoodforallkirklees.org.uk/food-projects-map/
Good Food For All Kirklees is a network of community groups, organisations, charities and individuals across the Kirklees district involved in helping meet the needs of our communities through projects and schemes that support access to sharing, cooking and growing good food. If you run a local project that shares food, runs cooking sessions and/or offer community-growing opportunities they would love you to join their network, or contact them.
I would like help with managing my money:
Cost of Living Support and Information from Mind
Mind has new resources to help you cope with the cost of living crisis, launched during Mental Health Awareness Week.
“Having so much to deal with can affect your mental health. Mind can’t fix the cost of living crisis, but we can help
you feel more able to cope. If this speaks to you, speak to us.”
Mental Health & Money Toolkit
Free help guide to improve your mental health and money situation
This toolkit is a resource to help you understand, manage and improve your mental and financial health. You can use it to help guide conversations with your relevant healthcare
worker about your mental health and money. You can also take it with you to any money or debt advice appointments you might attend. Please contact the college if you would like this printed and sent to you free of charge. (Please note you must be enrolled with us).
Mental Health and Money Advice Toolkit
Recovery College Winter Well-ies Money Saving Workbook
With rising energy and food prices, worries about Covid/Flu and the pressures that Christmas can bring, winter can be a difficult time for lots of us. To help in a small way, C&K Recovery & Wellbeing College’s improved Winter Well-ies Workbook is full of practical money saving tips for the festive season and beyond as well as activities and games to keep you and your families entertained. Click the link below to open the document.
Winter Well-ies Workbook 2022 (PDF, 2 MB)
Money Help and Support from Local Councils
For information, support and advice on how to beat the cost of living go to your local council pages here:
Help and support with money | Calderdale Council
Cost of living | Kirklees Council
I would like help with affordable food:
Halifax Community Fridge (Calderdale)
131 Gibbet Street, Halifax
The Halifax Community Fridge provides free food for anyone in the local community who is in need, between 11am and 12.30pm every day.
From 10th November they will also be offering a warm meal for their neighbours in the community, every Thursday afternoon. The meals will be served 30 minutes before sunset every Thursday – can check out their Facebook page for exact times.
Call: 07790 758618
The Bread and Butter Thing (Kirklees)
The Bread-and-Butter Thing is a charity which is distributing surplus food from shops, supermarkets and farms to people who need it. They cover several areas of Kirklees including Rawthorpe, Dalton, Deighton, Batley and Chickenley, providing weekly food bags at a fraction of the cost of buying them from the supermarket. Click the link below for more information.
I would like help with staying warm:
Groundwork Green Doctors
The Green Doctor service run by the charity Groundwork offers a range of help and advice for staying warm, staying well and saving money on household bills.
Call: 0808 1683547
Kirklees Affordable Warmth
Affordable Warmth – Kirklees Together
Keeping your house warm | Kirklees Council
Find a Warm Welcome Space in winter
Everyone should have a warm and welcoming Space to go to this winter, which is why our network of community organisations, churches, libraries, businesses and other faith groups across the UK have opened their doors to provide exactly that.
Find a Warm Welcome Space Today
I would like help with debt:
Breathing Space
Breathing Space (aka the Debt Respite Scheme) is a free government scheme to help out those in debt. It stops creditors from adding costs or taking enforcement action for 60 days; enough breathing space to get debt advice and set up a debt solution. There’s also a scheme designed specifically for people receiving mental health crisis treatment.
What is Breathing Space and how can it help me | MoneyHelper
StepChange
Free debt advice and support from the charity StepChange:
StepChange Debt Charity – Free Expert Debt Advice
Citizen’s Advice
Free money and debt advice from the charity Citizen’s Advice:
Debt and money – Citizens Advice