Support for
cost of living
The current cost of living crisis is something that's on all of our minds. Many of us will be impacted and feel extra pressure at different levels depending on our circumstances.
Just like mental health, our societal and cultural norms around the topic of money means that we might not feel able to speak up when we're struggling. Please remember that you are not alone. We will get through this together.
If you're feeling stressed out by the rising living costs, Off the Record can help. We provide free confidential emotional support to young people (contact us).
On this page you can find links to advice, information and resources to help you get through this difficult time.
Food Banks
- Food Banks (Simply Connect Croydon)
https://croydon.simplyconnect.uk/activities?post_code=Croydon&distance=5&category=63bd90e0-803e-11ea-8e85-ef0e80a1d4f3&type_id=1&type_id=2&page=2&limit=20&sort= - Local food banks in Croydon
https://www.reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk/local-food-banks - Merton Community Fridge
https://www.sustainablemerton.org/communityfridge - Sutton Food Bank
https://sutton.foodbank.org.uk
- Sutton Community Cupboard
https://www.communitychampions.uk/contact - Wimbledon Food Bank
http://wimbledon.foodbank.org.uk - Foodie Friday (Guiding Hands)
https://www.guidinghands.org.uk - Search for food banks in your area
https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank
Soup Kitchens / Free hot meals
- FoodCycle Thornton Heath – Free hot meals every Saturday, 12.30pm. St Alban’s Church Hall, 1 Whitehorse Lanes SE25 6RD
- FoodCycle Norwood Junction – Free hot meals every Friday, TBC. Oasis Academy Ryelands, Oakley Road, London SE25 4XG
- Search for FoodCycle’s in your area https://foodcycle.org.uk/location
- Big Dinner Evening Service – Free meal of Wednesday evenings, 6.45 - 8.30pm. Holy Innocents Church (Rear of the building), 192A Selhurst Road, SE25 6XX
- South Norwood Community Kitchen – Food project every Saturday, 11am – 2pm. Socco Cheta, 44B Portland Road SE25 4PQ
Warm Spaces & Childrens Centres
- Warm Hubs
https://www.warmwelcome.uk/#find-a-space - Croydon Children's Centres
https://www.croydon.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/find-support/support-directory/best-start-service-childrens-centres - Sutton Children's Centres
https://www.sutton.gov.uk/-/children-s-centres - Merton Children's Centres
https://www.merton.gov.uk/communities-and-neighbourhoods/childrens-centres
Advice and Information
- GOV.UK Cost of Living Payment
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment - Help with the cost of living Hub
https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/communities/help-cost-living - Croydon Council tax hardship scheme 2023/24
https://www.croydon.gov.uk/council-tax/get-money-your-bill/council-tax-hardship-scheme-202324# - Croydon's Household Support Fund
https://www.croydon.gov.uk/benefits/household-support-fund-hsf - Benefits calculator
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk - Budget planner
www.starlingbank.com/current-account/tools/budget-planner - Debt Free London
https://debtfree.london - Mental Health and Money Advice
https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en - Citizens Advice
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk - Money Saving Expert
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com - Christians Against Poverty
https://capuk.org/get-help - Free tools, tips and tricks (MyBnk)
https://www.mybnk.org/yp - Next Steps for Young Adults (MyBnk)
https://www.mybnk.org/yp/virtual-money-works-next-steps
Budget food ideas / recipes
- Cooking on a bootstrap https://cookingonabootstrap.com
- Jamie Oliver’s cheap and cheerful recipes https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/category/course/cheap-cheerful