Bridgelea Primary SchoolCost of Living Support
We encourage you to assign points of contact within your setting who can share the information below with employees, parents and carers and also via your web pages, newsletters and notice boards.
Helping Hands: Is the cost of living campaign for Manchester residents which provides lots of advice and support. To find the help you need visit manchester.gov.uk/helpinghands. This handy Helping Hands ZCard pocket guide containing advice and guidance can also be downloaded and distributed to employees, parents and carers.
Manchester City Council Advice Line: 0800 023 2692. The line is free to call, open Monday to Friday 9am to 4:30pm. Translations and Sign Video services are available upon request and support can also be accessed via the online form Request cost of living advice.
Emergency Grants: If emergency grant support is required this can be provided by your local authority if you live outside of Manchester. Emergency grants provide a lifeline for people and families who may be eligible to apply. Find out more by visiting your council's website. If you live in Manchester and are in financial crisis you can apply for a cash grant. Visit our website for more information and how to apply.
Manchester Money Advice Referral Tool (MART). The MARTs aim to provide assistance to organisations/professionals who engage with people who are struggling financially, by guiding the user through a conversation with a person about their financial difficulties so that they can confidently:
- refer them onto an appropriate organisation which can help them maximise their income, and/or
- refer them to an appropriate organisation that can provide advice/help on issues that may have caused their financial difficulties, or made those difficulties worse (such as their mental health)
You can find more details about the MARTs, and download them, at - MART - Greater Manchester Poverty Action (gmpovertyaction.org).
Borrow Money Safely: Say no to pay-day loans, doorstep lenders and loan sharks. There is a range of free and confidential advice and support available and recommended safer ways to borrow. Think carefully before borrowing money: even if you're desperate, there are other options, such as a credit union or emergency grant.
Credit Unions: Credit Unions are nonprofit financial cooperatives owned and controlled by their members. They offer their members a range of competitive savings, loans and insurance products. Manchester Credit Union (MCU) has a money and budgeting advice service which offers one-to-one support in person for those who want to speak to someone about their finances. Find out more.
Staying Safe: Be aware of tactics fraudsters use to lure people into borrowing money and phishing scams to try and get personal details. Read more on how to avoid these types of scams. If someone thinks they have borrowed money from a loan shark they can report this at www.gov.uk/report-loan-shark.
Employee Assistance Programme: The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a 24 hour service available that can help your employees with financial worries. An EAP service also offers lots more health and wellbeing support for your employees and their families. Please ensure your employees have access to information about how to contact their EAP and what support is available to them via your provider.
Money Helper: Money Helper offers free and impartial help with money, backed by the government.
They have a range of tools that can help you keep track of money and help sort payments in the right order.
Budget Planner: free tool The free Budget Planner helps keeps track of exactly where money is being spent and offers a breakdown of spending by category, so you can keep on top of your outgoings and take control of your finances.
Bill Prioritiser: free tool The bill prioritiser helps to sort bills and payments in the right order and tells what you need to do if you’re struggling before you miss a payment. It helps you to see which should be paid first and which has a greater consequence for not paying.
Charities and other organisations who can provide advice:
Manchester Citizens Advice Bureau - at the Customer Service Centre in the Town Hall Extension, by appointment only: contact CAB direct on 0808 278 7800 to book your debt advice session.
Money Charity offers support and guidance on managing your money and making the most of it.
Step Change Debt Charity - a specialist debt charity
Debt Advice Foundation - a specialist debt charity
National Debtline - provides a four-step guide to preventing and dealing with debt
Money Saving Expert mental health guide - provides resources to help manage the stress of debt
Money Navigator Tool - provides help and guidance for your finances
Money Adviser Network - free, confidential and independent debt advice.