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Cost of living

Cost of living support in Belfast

  • Cost of living support

    The cost of everyday essentials continues to rise. We recognise that individuals and households 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 people who are most in need of help.

    If you are worried about money and bills, make sure you are getting the help and support available to you. In our Cost of living section, we publish information on our services and details of other organisations in Belfast which might be able to provide support or advice. We haven't included details of every local neighbourhood support initiative, so you should ask local community organisations for information on other support available in your area. 

  • Help with food

    Food prices are rising quickly. Food banks, food vouchers and social supermarkets provide options to people who are most in need of help. Organisations listed in this table can provide advice and help to access food support. Each organisation's link opens 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                              

    • Ekenhead Halls, 19 North Circular Road, Belfast BT15 5HB
    • Immanuel Church, 35 Agnes Street, Belfast BT13 1GG

    Dundonald and East Belfast Food Bank

    • Orangefield Presbyterian Church, 464 Castlereagh Road, Belfast BT5 6BH
    • 971 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT16 1RL

    South Belfast Food Bank

    • 119 University Street, Belfast BT7 1HP

    South-West Belfast Food Bank

    • 124 Stewartstown Road, Belfast, BT11 9J
    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.
    Call 028 9035 1561
    Salvation Army They can provide emergency food relief as a one-off for people in crisis. Visit Salvation Army.
    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.
    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.
    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.

    Free recipe books

    Planning meals and writing food shopping lists can help make food go further. We have created two free cookbooks, Cooking Solo and Thrifty Kitchen, with budget-friendly recipes. Each book has appetising recipes for people cooking alone or interested in reducing food waste. To get a free recipe book, email [email protected].

  • Help for families and children

    Each organisation's link opens in a new window.

    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 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 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.

    Email [email protected]

  • Help with energy costs

    Oil, gas and electricity bills are increasing. Contact your energy supplier to discuss payment options or ask for free confidential advice from organisations listed in this table. Each organisation's link opens 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.
    Check the Consumer Council price comparison tool.
    Call 0800 121 6022
    NI Housing Executive   NI Energy Advice

    Free advice on:
    • saving energy in your home
    • energy efficiency grants, and
    • oil buying clubs.

    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.
    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
    Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) Funding for various energy saving schemes such as boiler upgrades, LED light bulbs and draught proofing. Visit Energy Saving Trust.
    Call 0800 111 4455
    nidirect

    Winter Fuel Payment

    Payment is usually made automatically to eligible people during November and December.

    Visit nidirect.

    Call 0800 731 0160 
  • Help for older people

    Each organisation's link opens 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 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:
    • welfare benefits
    • community care
    • housing
    • health
    Visit Age NI.
    Call 0808 808 7575
    Email [email protected]  
  • Warm and welcome spaces

    Organisation Help available More information

    Belfast City Council

    We have 27 community centres in Belfast that provide a warm and welcoming space as well as a varied programme of activities.

    Belfast City Council community centres

    028 9032 0202

    Libraries NI

    17 libraries across Belfast offer free and inclusive spaces, with a range of services including books, access to information, free events, Wi-Fi and internet access.

    Libraries NI

    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.

    Warm Welcome UK
    Energy Saving Trust The trust provide tips on how to save energy in your home as well as information on grants and schemes currently available.  Energy Saving Trust

    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.

    Stay Warm in Winter
     

  • Other support and advice

    Organisation Help available More information
    Advice NI

    Financial advice

    Independent advice on:

    • benefits
    • money and debt
    • tax credits and HMRC issues, and
    • how to access additional support on managing your bills.
    Visit Advice NI.
    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:

    • benefits
    • consumer advice
    • debt
    • employment, and housing issues.

    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.
    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 Irish League of Credit Unions.
    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.

    Call 028 9024 5640
    Housing Rights Independent housing advice and information on homelessness, housing options and renting privately. Visit Housing Rights

    Call 028 9024 5640

    Textphone 028 9026 7927  
    Helplines NI

    Helpline directory

    Website with details of different helplines providing:

    • information
    • advice
    • counselling, and
    • befriending services.
    Some are telephone helplines, and some can help via email, text and live webchat.
    Visit Helplines NI.
    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. 

    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 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.
    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.
    Call 0115 965 9570

    Email [email protected]
    nidirect

    Cost of living information and advice

    Information and advice on:

    • energy
    • income support, and
    • housing.
    Visit nidirect for advice.
    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.
  • Ten tips for saving energy at home

    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:

    • if you only have a single room thermostat for the whole house, for every degree you increase the temperature, it could increase the heating bill by about 10 per cent.
    • draught-proofing windows and doors as well as blocking cracks in floors and skirting boards could save around £95 a year.
    • if your hot water tank is uninsulated, add 80mm insulation to the tank and pipes. You could save up to £215 and 1,025 kg CO2 a year.
    • switching off electrical appliances and not leaving items like TVs on standby could save around £70.
    • washing clothes at 30°C and running one less cycle per week could save around £30 a year on energy.
    • drying laundry on a clothesline instead of tumbledrying could save an average of £60 a year on electricity.
    • taking a four-minute shower could save you up to £65 per year on your household energy bills.
    • only fill your kettle with water you need and fit a tap aerator to save up to £32 per year.
    • Only run the dishwasher when full. One less run per week could save £15 a year.

    Sources: Information sourced from Energy Saving Trust. Northern Ireland prices for oil and electricity are based on an average of supplier tariffs in November 2024.

  • Top tips to reduce food waste and save money

    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.

    Cook once, eat twice

    • Batch cooking - cooking larger amounts and keeping portions for later can keep down the cost of making food.
    • Freeze for later - having meals in your freezer is a great way to avoid buying expensive ready meals or takeaways. Simply double up on the quantities and freeze half.
    • Lunch box leftovers – make the most of leftovers to create additional meals. Meats left over from dinner can be added to a healthy salad or tasty sandwich.

    Food storage

    • Store bread in a cupboard or bread bin – it goes stale quicker in the fridge.
    • Check your fridge is set below 5˚C to keep your food fresher for longer.
    • Apart from pineapples, bananas and onions, the best place to store fruit and vegetables is in the fridge.

    Differences between ‘Use by’ and ‘Best before’ dates

    • 'Use by’ relates to safety. Food can be eaten up until and on the ‘use by’ date, but not after.
    • ‘Best before’ relates to quality. Food will be safe to eat after this date, but it may not be at its best.

    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].

  • Cost of living printed guide

    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]

  • Money and payment scams

    Beware of calls, emails or text messages pretending to be from a government service or an energy support scheme. If you get a message asking for your personal information including bank details ro passwords, you should report any suspicious requests.

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