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Cost of living
We recognise that individuals and households continue to face pressures due to the high cost-of-living. We are working with a range of organisations across Belfast to enhance their capacity to support those most in need of help.
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.
| Organisation | Help available | More information |
|---|---|---|
|
Belfast City Council |
We have 27 community centres throughout the city that provide a warm and welcoming space as well as a varied programme of activities. |
Belfast City Council community centres 028 9032 0202 |
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Better |
If you are struggling to heat your home this winter, receive a warm welcome at these leisure centres where you can also take part in a range of activities: Shankill Leisure Centre Tuesday from 9am to 11am. Activities include badminton and pickleball. Indoor Tennis Centre and Ozone Complex Wednesday from 10.30am to 12 noon. The activity is table tennis. Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre Tuesday from 10am to 12 noon. The activity is table tennis. Falls Leisure Centre Thursday from 11am to 1pm. There are board games to play. The scheme runs from 2 December 2024 until the end of February 2025. |
[email protected]
[email protected] [email protected] 0330 123 1500 |
|
Libraries NI |
17 libraries across Belfast offer free and inclusive spaces, with a range services and activities. |
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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 this winter. |
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The Grapevine at 2 Royal Avenue |
‘The Grapevine’ at 2 Royal Avenue is a drop-in space for older people to meet a friendly face, enjoy a cup of tea and find out about events and services. It is open every Tuesday from 11am to 1pm. |
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| 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 (link opens in new window) to find a foodbank near you. Call 01722 580 180 North Belfast Food Bank Call 0300 1021 378 Email [email protected] Dundonald and East Belfast Food Bank Call 07763 849030 Email [email protected] South Belfast Food Bank Call 07743 332489 Email [email protected] South-West Food Bank Call 07938 706552 Email [email protected] |
| 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 |
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| Organisation | Help available | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Family Support NI |
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 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 [email protected] |
| 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 [email protected] |
| Parenting Focus |
Parenting Focus (formerly Parenting NI) is a leading family support organisation in Northern Ireland providing a range of services to parents and carers to ensure they have access to timely support and information to parent effectively and help their child reach their full potential. Services include a Parent Support Line, Home support and a wide range of parenting programmes and workshops to support parents and carers and guide them through their parenting journey. Parenting Focus currently deliver the four-session Summerhill Foundation workshops developed to specifically support families through the cost-of-living crisis. |
Visit Parenting NI website (link opens in new window) Email [email protected] |
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| 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:
The Affordable Warmth Scheme scheme may be available to you if you own or rent your home and have a total annual gross income of less than £23,000. |
Visit NI Housing Executive website (link opens in new window) Call 0800 111 4455 Email [email protected] |
| 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 [email protected] |
| 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 [email protected] Facebook facebook.com/NEANorthernIreland (link opens in new window) |
| 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 |
| nidirect |
Winter Fuel Payment Available for those eligible for the state pension or another social security benefit (not housing benefit, child benefit or Universal Credit). |
Visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment-centre (link opens in new window) Call 0800 731 0160 |
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| 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 [email protected] |
| 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 [email protected] |
| Organisation | Help available | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Advice NI |
Financial advice Independent advice on:
|
Visit Advice NI website (link opens in new window) Email [email protected] Call 0800 915 4604 |
| Advice services | Belfast City Council supports generalist advice centres across Belfast to provide free, confidential and independent advice. | Visit our 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 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 [email protected] |
| 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 [email protected] |
| 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 |
| Gateway to Choices (G2C) |
Advice to help you access employment and learning support, ongoing access to experienced advisors, one-to-one guidance that meets your needs and information on learning opportunities. |
Read more about Gateway to Choices |
Forty one per cent of households spends more than 10 per cent of their income on their home energy costs. Changes to some everyday activities in your home could help you reduce your household bills. There are ten suggestions to consider:
Sources: Information sourced from Energy Saving Trust. Northern Ireland prices for oil and electricity are based on an average of supplier tariffs in October 2024.
Houses in the UK throw out 6.5 million tonnes of food every year. A family of four can save over £80 a month by reducing food waste.
Here are some suggestions to consider.
We have created two free cookbooks, Cooking Solo and Thrifty Kitchen, with delicious and budget-friendly recipes to guide those cooking alone or keen to reduce food waste. To request your free copy, email [email protected].
We published a free, printed guide with details of organisations in Belfast providing advice and support to people needing help due to the high cost-of-living.
The guide is available in different formats including translations in Irish, Arabic, Chinese, Romanian and Somalian. To ask for the guide, email [email protected].
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