Resources to help you with your cost of living

School costs Affordable shopping Meters and meter reading

Help with food

• The BANES food finder can help you find your local foodbanks and pantries  
• Affordable options at Bath City Farm Cafe
• Free school meals with Pupil Premium
• Affordable veg from Southside Food Co-op

Help with bills

• If you’re struggling with your council tax bill, you may be eligible for council tax support
• Help from St John’s Foundation to buy household items 
• Change to apply for a discretionary housing payment to pay for rent
• Get a prescription prepayment certificate
• Check your property is in the right council tax band
• Warm Spaces Directory

BANES Council support schemes

• We can help you check your benefits 
• BANES welfare support scheme 

How can I increase my income?

• Cinnamon Trust offers free care for dogs for older people and those who are terminally ill
• Better returns on savings for people on low incomes
• Grants for vulnerable children
• Find lost or dormant bank and savings accounts
• Money helper can help find lost pensions
• Check if you are exempt from paying NHS costs.
• Check if you can increase your income using our advice page

Affordable shopping

• Second-hand goods and furniture can be found at: Baby Bank Network, Small Stuff Baby Bank, The Nest project, Genesis Trust Furniture Shop, Kennet Refurb – Devizes, Freegle, and Freecycle
• Timpson’s are offering free dry-cleaning for job interviews
• Borrow, exchange, and repair service through Time Bank Plus and Bath Share and Repair
• Check monthly supermarket price comparisons
• Petrol Prices can help you find the cheapest petrol in the area
• Free coats from Bath City Farm for those in need
• Dorothy House has 27 pre-loved clothing and furniture retail shops also offer low-cost, but high-quality goods to our community with every penny going to supporting local hospice care

School costs

• Referrals are now open for the School Kit Project, who can help with the cost of school uniforms
• BANES Council can help with free school meals as well as help with food costs during the holidays

Support for people of pension age

• Use the government website to find out if you are getting the support you’re entitled to
• Visit the Wessex Water website to see if you’re eligible for a discount on your water bill
• The government website can help you check your state pension age

Energy supply

• Check if you’re responsible for paying an energy bill using our help page
• Find out who your gas or electricity supplier is
• If you’re worried about your energy tariff we have a page giving advice
• Switching energy supplier can be tricky but Citizens Advice has a page that may help

Heating your home

• The Centre for Sustainable Energy has news and tips about energy
• Simple Energy Advice
• Control Your Home can help you reduce your energy usage

Energy bills

• Have you received the energy support you’re entitled to?
• Grants to clear energy debts 
• If you think your energy bill is too high 
• If your energy supplier has increased your direct debits
• What to do if you’re struggling to pay your energy bills
• You can’t afford to top up your prepayment meter 
• Stop your energy supplier from moving you to prepayment 
• If you’ve been told your energy supply will be disconnected 
• We have an Energy Advice booklet written by our experts
• Energy Networks can help you find out who your network provider is
• Getting support from your energy supplier 
• Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills

Energy efficiency

• Use the government website to find your energy certificate 
• Make sure your home is energy efficient with our guide
• Simple Energy Advice

Meters and meter readings

• Problems getting to or topping up your prepayment meter
• How to read your gas or electricity meter 
• Check your smart meter’s working in smart mode

Check out our advice page for more information on each topic.