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Cost of living
We recognise that individuals and households continue to face pressures this year due to the continued high cost-of-living. In response, we decided to invest over £1million of Department of Communities funding to boost established programmes of partner organisations who already provide much needed support for children and young people, families and individuals across the city.
These pages provide information on our services and details of other organisations in the city who may be able to provide support or advice. It doesn’t include details of every local neighbourhood support initiative, so check with local community organisations for information on other support available in your area. You can pick up a printed cost-of-living support guide at the locations listed on this web page.
All organisation links open in a new window.
| Organisation | Help available | More information |
|---|---|---|
| The Consumer Council | Energy price comparison tool Save money on your gas and electricity bills by using a price comparison tool, which will help you find the lowest tariffs and cheapest payment methods. |
Use The Consumer Council comparison tool (link opens in new window) Call 0800 121 6022 |
| NI Housing Executive | NI Energy Advice Free advice on:
They also have a home energy saving tool on their website to help you lower your energy bills and make your home more comfortable. |
Visit NI Housing Executive website (link opens in new window) Call 0800 111 4455 Email NIenergyadvice@nihe.gov.uk |
| Stay Warm oil stamp saving scheme | Save towards your next oil delivery by buying our £5 oil stamps and collecting these on a card. These can be used to pay part or all of your next oil bill. | Visit our Stay Warm oil stamp saving scheme page. Call 028 9027 0428 Email staywarm@belfastcity.gov.uk |
| National Energy Action |
Belfast Warm and Well Project Confidential advice and practical support to help people struggling to pay their fuel bills including advice on saving money, accessing benefits and applying for grants for home heating or insulation improvements and draught proofing measures. NEA also offers free energy awareness and energy efficiency training sessions. |
Call 028 9023 9909 Email warmandwell@nea.org.uk Facebook facebook.com/NEANorthernIreland (link opens in new window) |
| nidirect |
Winter Fuel Payment The Winter Fuel Payment Centre accepts telephone claims from people who are eligible to receive Winter Fuel Payment for the first time. You can ask the centre to send you an application form by post if you don't want to claim by telephone. |
Visit nidirect for help with energy costs (link opens in new window) |
| Cold Weather Payment If you're receiving certain benefits, you could qualify for extra money for each week there is very cold weather in your area. |
Visit nidirect for cold weather payments (link opens in new window) Call 0800 731 0160 |
|
| Staying warm in winter Tips and information on government energy support schemes. |
Visit nidirect for tips on staying warm (link opens in new window) Call 0300 200 7814 |
|
| Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) | Funding for various energy saving schemes such as boiler upgrades, LED light bulbs and draught proofing. | Visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/programme/nisep (link opens in new window) Call 0800 111 4455 |
All organisation links open in a new window.
| Organisation | Help available | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Trussell Trust |
Emergency food and signposting for people in crisis. A referral is required in most cases. North Belfast Food Bank
Dundonald and East Belfast Food Bank
South Belfast Food Bank
South-West Belfast Food Bank
|
Visit Trussell Trust website (link opens in new window) to find a foodbank near you. Call 0172 258 0180 North Belfast Food Bank Call 07902 099840 Email info@northbelfast.foodbank.org.uk Dundonald and East Belfast Food Bank Call 07763 849030 Email info@dundonald.foodbank.org.uk South Belfast Food Bank Call 07743 332489 Email info@southbelfast.foodbank.org.uk South-West Food Bank Call 07938 706552 Email info@southwestbelfast.foodbank.org.uk |
| Society of St Vincent de Paul | They can provide emergency food relief food parcels and signposting to other services. | Visit Society of St Vincent de Paul website (link opens in new window) Call 028 9035 1561 |
| Salvation Army | They can provide emergency food relief as a one-off for people in crisis. | Visit Salvation Army website (link opens in new window) Call 028 9032 9429 |
| The Consumer Council | Helpful information and advice on saving money while shopping and when using energy in the kitchen, as well as links to other useful resources to help with food costs. | Visit The Consumer Council website (link opens in new window) |
| Love Food Hate Waste | Love Food Hate Waste can help you waste less and save your money. Visit their website for information on food portions and meal planning, recipes, saving time and money. | Visit Love Food Hate Waste website (link opens in new window) |
| Social supermarkets | Social supermarkets are usually small shops set up within a community organisation’s premises to offer food, cleaning products and toiletries at discounted prices or via a membership charge. Some distribute food vouchers rather than operating as a shop. All offer wraparound provision and signpost to services such as benefit checks, debt advice, training and employment advice, and childcare. Most operate on a referral basis only. | Visit Social supermarkets |
All organisation links open in a new window.
| Organisation | Help available | More information |
|---|---|---|
|
Belfast City Council |
Warm Spaces, Warm Welcome Our 26 community centres are opening their doors this winter with dedicated time for older people to drop in for company, chat and a cuppa! Contact your local centre for more information on drop-in session times. |
Visit: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/communitycentres |
| GLL |
Warm and Welcome Spaces If you are struggling to heat your home in winter, you will receive a warm welcome and some physical activity in dedicated spaces at these leisure centres:
Runs from 4 December 2023 until the end of February 2024.) |
Read more about GLL's Warm Space Initiative (link opens in new window) Call 0330 123 1500 |
| Libraries NI |
Warm and Welcome Spaces There are 17 libraries in Belfast offering welcoming, free and inclusive spaces, with a range of services, activities and resources for everyone. |
Visit Libraries NI website (link opens in new window) |
| Warm Welcome UK | Information on community organisations, churches, libraries, businesses and other faith groups who have opened their doors to provide warm and welcome spaces to people struggling to heat their homes in winter. | Visit Warm Welcome UK website (link opens in new window) |
All organisation links open in a new window.
| Organisation | Help available | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Family Support NI |
www.familysupportni.gov.uk is an online directory of family support services and childcare providers in Northern Ireland. You can search by postcode to find family support services and registered childcare in your area. The site also has information about financial assistance available for childcare costs. It also includes useful information for people with disabilities, details about parenting support organisations and family mediation services, plus wider support available for people affected by mental health problems, drug or alcohol misuse and domestic or sexual abuse. |
Visit Family Support NI website (link opens in new window) for information on your local support hub. Call 0845 600 6483 |
| Belfast City Council | Home safety checks Home safety checks for residents with young children. The checks offer tips on all aspects of home safety, as well as specialist advice on topics like heating and energy saving. |
Visit our home safety page. Call 028 9027 0428 Email envhealth@belfastcity.gov.uk |
| Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership | Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership provide a publication with information on organisations supporting families and children who are struggling with the current cost of living crisis. | Visit Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership website (link opens in new window) to download the publication. Email una.casey@hscni.net |
| Parenting NI |
Parenting NI provides support and information for parents and carers to help them parent effectively and help their child reach their full potential. Services include a dedicated parent support line, home support, and a wide range of parenting programmes and workshops including the Summerhill Foundation workshops which have been developed to support families during the cost-of-living crisis |
Visit Parenting NI website (link opens in new window) Call 0808 801 0722 |
All organisation links open in a new window.
| Organisation | Help available | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Bryson Energy |
Handyperson services Advice and support for people aged over 65 and vulnerable adults including free home safety checks and subsidised rates for repairs. |
Visit Bryson Energy website (link opens in new window) and search for handyperson service. Call 0800 142 2865 Email handyman@brysonenergy.org |
| Age NI | Free advice, information and practical support on a wide range of issues including:
|
Visit www.ageni.org (link opens in new window) Call 0808 808 7575 Email advice@ageni.org |
| Organisation | Help available | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Advice NI |
Financial advice Independent advice on:
|
Visit Advice NI website (link opens in new window) Email advice@adviceni.net Call 0800 915 4604 |
| Advice services | Belfast City Council supports generalist advice centres across Belfast to provide free, confidential and independent advice. | www.belfastcity.gov.uk/advice-providers |
| Belfast Citywide Tribunal Service |
Financial and other advice The service provides free, confidential and independent advice on a range of issues including:
|
Visit our advice providers page Call 028 9039 1765 |
| Debt Advice NI | They offer free, confidential and independent debt and money advice. | Visit Debt Advice NI website (link opens in new window) Call 0800 917 4607 |
| Credit Unions |
Financial support They offer a safe place for savings and access to loans at a reasonable rate of interest, starting from £50. |
Visit Credit Union website (link opens in new window) Call 028 9061 4394 |
| Benefit Advice Line | Make the call to the Benefit Advice Line to be sure you're getting all the money you are entitled to. | Call 0800 232 1271 |
| Housing Rights Service | They work to achieve positive change by promoting and protecting the rights of people in housing need. | Visit Housing Rights Service website (link opens in new window) Call 028 9024 5640 |
| Housing Rights | Independent housing advice and information on homelessness, housing options and renting privately. | Visit Housing Rights website (link opens in new window) Call 028 9024 5640 Textphone 028 9026 7927 |
| Helplines NI |
Helpline directory Website with details of different helplines providing:
|
Visit Helplines NI website (link opens in new window) |
| nidirect |
Make the Call service Advice service to make sure you get all the benefits, services and support you are entitled to. |
Visit nidirect for advice about benefits and services (link opens in new window) Call 0800 232 1271 Email makethecall@dfcni.gov.uk |
| Public Health Agency |
Mental health support directory A directory of organisations that offer services to help improve mental health and emotional wellbeing. |
Visit Public Health Agency website (link opens in new window) and search for mental health support directory. |
| Christians Against Poverty |
Church support A range of free services through local churches to help people break free from debt. |
Visit Christians Against Poverty website (link opens in new window) Call 0800 328 0006 |
| Department for Work and Pensions |
Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) Financial wellbeing support including money and pensions guidance and debt advice. |
Visit Money and Pensions Service website (link opens in new window) Call 0115 965 9570 Email contact@maps.org.uk |
| nidirect |
Cost of living information and advice Information and advice on a range of issues including:
|
Visit nidirect for advice (link opens in new window) Call 0300 200 7814 |
Simple changes to day-to-day activities could make big differences to household bills. These are suggestions on ways to make energy savings.
Sources: Information sourced from Energy Saving Trust. Northern Ireland prices for oil and electricity are based on an average of supplier tariffs. Correct as of July 2023
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