Cost of living support
Money is on everyone’s mind now more than ever. We’ve got lots of practical support and advice services that can help you though, from low-cost food and meals, to wellbeing support, and advice to help you get into work and manage your money better. Scroll down to the bottom for money-saving tips and links to other organisations who can support you, and remember to check this list as we’ll keep on adding to it.
What’s on offer at Wellspring Settlement
Warm up and get a hot meal at our Eatwell Café, Settlement Site, Ducie Road. Our café is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 11am to 1.30pm and will be offering home-cooked, healthy meals on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis. There will be hot drinks, space to sit and socialise, somewhere to charge mobile phones and access the internet, advice and information leaflets, and a chance to chat to our community engagement workers.
Our Food Club membership costs just £1 per year. Once you’ve joined, you can purchase a box of tasty food every week for just £3.50, worth approximately £10-£15. Boxes contain a variety of fresh fruits and veg, and a selection of fridge, freezer and store cupboard items. Halal, vegan and vegetarian options are available. The Food Club also offers a lending library of cooking equipment and advice on reducing food waste. Pop along to our Settlement Site, Ducie Road, on Wednesdays from 1pm to 3pm.
Boost Community offers advice, information or support with welfare benefits, debt, water, and energy bills, budgeting, housing, legal issues, employment or community life. . Boost Community is based at our Settlement Site, Ducie Road. Drop-in sessions for community, employment and housing issues run on Fridays from 9.30am to 12.30pm (Legal & housing advice are available on alternate Fridays, please see our calendar for details).
West of England Works can support people who have been unemployed for over 12 months to get job ready, write a CV or find out about education or training opportunities. Practical support and advice is available Monday to Friday at our Settlement Site, Ducie Road, and a dedicated personal caseworker will get to know you and understand your needs. Find the referral form here.
If the strain of worrying about money is impacting on your wellbeing, our CASS project have put together a Money and Mental Health leaflet containing information on where to get support for your mental health, and money worries. You can download it here or get in touch if you would like hard copies.
Foodcycle are at our Settlement Site, Ducie Road, every Saturday at 1.30pm to cook a free, hot meal for anyone who comes along. All the meals veggie and cooked from ingredients that would otherwise be thrown away by supermarkets.
Other resources
There is support with money available in Bristol, from advice to one-off payments. Take a look at this easy-to-use interactive guide to services from the Independent Food Aid Network. The information is also available as a leaflet which you can view in English, Somali, Arabic, Polish and Romanian.
Find tips on staying warm for less over the winter, including a guide to the cost of running various heating gadgets including hot water bottles, electric blankets and hand warmers, at Money Saving Expert.
Read the Centre for Sustainable Energy’s post on how to cope with high energy bills, which includes lots of links to help you use less gas and electricity.
Bristol City Council have information on where to get help with a range of issues, including help with fuel bills, benefits and financial help, advice and support for older or disabled people, and access to food.
Everyone Active is offering free access to their showers at the centres in St Pauls, Horfield, Kingsdown and Henbury, just mention welcoming spaces at the recption.
