Help in a crisis
A crisis can occur for lots of different reasons – benefit delays, losing a job, an unexpected bill or gradually things getting more difficult until no longer you feel you can cope. If you don’t have enough money to feed, clothe or keep warm there is help available. There is no need to struggle alone.
Check out the information below on various help available to you in your area.
You can also find more information in our Bills and Debt pages
Here is a 2 page Money Help in Cambridgeshire Checklist that you can use to help yourself or others.
Are you feeling stressed, worried or experiencing feelings you can’t manage? Talking to someone who will listen and won’t judge and will help you through is vital. All of the below are free phone helplines:
Samaritans call 116 123 Available 365 days a year 24 hours a day
NHS call 111 and press option 2 for a 24 hour service for people in a mental health crisis living in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Lifeline 0808 808 2121 7-11pm 7 days a week
ExpandFoodbanks provide an emergency supply of at least 3 days food. Getting help from a foodbank is straightforward and they support many people every year. To get your food you need a foodbank voucher – these are given out by frontline professionals who are experienced in providing support.
How to get help from a foodbank
Find your nearest foodbank through the Trussell Trust
Information about local foodbanks downloadable as a pdf
Please note that you must have a food voucher in order to receive help from the foodbank.
ExpandThe Household Support Fund (HSF) has been created to help people experiencing immediate financial hardship to pay for food and household energy bills.
In March 2022 the Government announced that councils would be provided with funding to continue operating the Household Support Fund because of the impact of the rising costs of living.
Cambridgeshire has been allocated £3.58million, of which £1.2m will be used to support households that include a person who has reached state pension age (66) by 30 September 2022 and are experiencing financial hardship.
Up to date information on applying for the Household Support Fund can be found via the links below
Cambridgeshire Household Support Fund
Peterborough Household Support Fund
If you or someone in your household was born before 30 September 1956 and are experiencing hardship you can also call Age UK on 01223 221929 to access financial support within a few days.
ExpandThese are grants organised by County Councils to support people experiencing severe financial distress. All applications to the scheme are made through local workers. Each local scheme operates differently and may offer help with food, heating, clothing, essential household appliances or recycled goods
For details of the Cambridgeshire scheme click here
For details of the Peterborough scheme click here
For details of the Norfolk Assistance Scheme click here
ExpandTo find out what is available locally such as help with shopping, getting your medication, or some phone or online contact, contact your local District Council or County Council.
For Cambridgeshire County Council click here
For Norfolk County Council click here
For Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council click here
For Peterborough City Council click here
For Fenland District Council click here
For Huntingdonshire District Council click here
For South Cambridgeshire District Council click here
For Cambridge City Council click here
For East Cambridgeshire click here
ExpandBenefits check – Always do a benefits check regularly to make sure you are receiving all the help you are entitled to. You can do this yourself online at turn2us
Universal Credit – if you have just applied for Universal Credit it can take 6-7 weeks for your first payment to come through. To help with this you can request a Universal Credit Advance payment. This is a loan and you will have to pay it back but it can be helpful.
You can request a Universal Credit Advance payment at your first interview with the JobCentre or if you have already applied by calling the Universal Credit helpline on 0345 600 0723 (8am- 6pm weekdays – calls will be charged). If you do not have money for a phone call ask to use a phone at your Jobcentre.
Budgeting loan – if you have been on certain benefits for at least 6 months you can apply for a budgeting loan from the DWP. This is an interest free loan to help with a wide range of different costs.
For more information go to the www.gov.uk website
Discretionary housing payments
This is support from your local district council to help meet housing costs. It is short term help to give you time to work out a solution to problems you may be experiencing. To find out more about these payments contact your local district council offices.
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Many different organisations provide money to help meet the cost of bills and expenses that you cannot afford.
Most grants need to be applied for by a frontline worker. We have compiled a list if grant giving organisations that work nationally and locally with details of the support available.
The list can be downloaded here:
Grants for individuals in need
Please note this is a long document and it might be easier to read if you save and print.
You could also try:
For grants for people with a disability click here
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IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHAT TO DO AND NEED HELP PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CITIZENS ADVICE
CAMBRIDGE & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE
Advice line Freephone 0808 278 7808 Mon-Fri 9-5
66 Devonshire Road Cambridge CB1 2BL
HUNTS, FENLAND AND EAST CAMBS
Advice line Freephone 0808 278 7807 Mon-Fri 9:30-3:30
www.citizensadviceruralcambs.org.uk
70 Market Street Ely CB7 4LS
Pathfinder House St Mary’s Street Huntingdon PE29 3TN
CAB Portacabin Tan Yard Car Park St Neots PE19 1AN
9 Church Mews Wisbech PE13 1HL
PETERBOROUGH
Advice line Freephone 0808 278 7850 Mon-Fri 9-4
16-17 St Mark’s Street Peterborough PE1 2TU
WEST NORFOLK
Advice line Freephone 0800 144 8848
Hanse House South Quay KINGS LYNN PE30 5GN
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