If the rising cost of living is making is hard to make ends meet, don’t suffer in silence. Contact your energy and financial service providers as soon as you can to discuss the situation. You can also talk to Citizens’ Advice about problems with paying your bills, as well as any other financial and debt issues you’re experiencing.
Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call 0800 144 8848 (free from a landline) for advice, information and support. Or, visit our local office on Maid Marian Way in Nottingham.
Government support schemes
You can find details of financial support for residents and community groups who are most in need at the County Council website, www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk.
This includes details of the Household Support Fund Phase 3, which has been extended from October 2022 to March 2023. This provides eligible residents with vouchers for food and energy bills, and holiday food vouchers for those on free school meals.
The Warm Homes scheme, which provides discounts on energy bills for certain residents on low incomes or who receive Pension Credit, will reopen in November 2022.
And, from October 2022, everyone will be getting a £400 rebate to help with their energy costs. This will be paid in six monthly instalments, automatically deducted from your electricity bill. It’s important to note that if you don’t pay your electricity bills directly, for example if your rent includes energy bills, your landlord is legally obliged to pass on these payments to you.
Support in and around Ruddington
The Ruddington Pantry is open twice a week in St Peter’s Rooms and a fortnightly ‘Heat n Eat’ scheme runs at St Peter’s Church (see the Diary page for details).
There is also the Clifton NG11 Food Bank at the Hope Centre in Clifton, which is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9:30am to 11am. Visit https://cliftonng11.foodbank.org.uk for more details.