Your Services Working Together For You

Contents

• For utility bills and energy costs.
• Don't miss out on benefits you may be entitled to.
• If you have children.
• For other household costs like food and furniture.
• Housing advice.
• For medical costs.
• If you have debt concerns.
• If you live with a disability
• Support if you are a carer
• Help for people aged 50 plus.
• Help for people under 25.
• General Support.
• Looking for a warm space?

For utility bills and energy costs

• If you use oil or LPG to heat your home and are struggling with the rising costs, contact Worcestershire Advice Network (WAN).
• Act on Energy deliver our Bromsgrove Energy Advice Service, giving free impartial advice to help cut energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, energy saving measures, independent advice on technologies and how to avoid scams. Freephone 0800 988 2881.
• Look at social tariff broadband and mobile phone offers.
• Check if you can get Severn Trent's support to pay your water bill.
• Check if you are eligible for a TV Licensing Simple Payment Plan.
• Warmer Worcestershire Network - Information available, includes reliable hints and tips on how to reduce your energy bills.

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Don’t miss out on benefits you may be entitled to

• If you’re of working age, check you’re not missing out on any state benefits.
• If you’re of pension age, check if you can get Pension Credit.
• Check if you can get help to pay your Council Tax, through Council Tax Support and Council Tax discounts.
• For help with your rent, check if you can get Housing Benefit and a Housing Payment.
• For short term help in an emergency or due to an unexpected event see if you can get help from our Essential Living Fund.
• If you are sick or disabled, check if you can get any disability or sickness benefits.
• If you are a carer, check if you can get Carer’s Allowance.
• Browse the other services in the Money, education & skills section of our website, which are regularly updated.
• Check this other financial advice and support page.

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If you have children

• Check if you can get help with childcare costs, free school meals including holiday provisions and much more.

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For other household costs like food and furniture

• Cut your food costs with advice from Love Food Hate Waste.
• See our Essential Living Fund for emergency help in a financial crisis.
• Help with food, furniture, foodbanks and household supplies.

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Housing advice

If you are behind on your rent or mortgage, think you're going to get behind, you don't have to struggle in silence. Help and support is available.

• Rent or mortgage going up? Speak to money and debt advice services including at Citizens Advice.
• Check your housing options (delivered by BDHT), including if you think you may be at risk of homelessness.

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For medical costs

• Check if you can get free prescriptions.

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If you have debt concerns

• Here is a range of debt advice and financial support services.

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If you live with a disability

Support if you live with a disability

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Support if you are a Carer

• Get specialist support if you are a carer.

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Help for people aged 50 plus

• Get specialist advice for people aged 50 plus.
  

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Help for people aged under 25

• Get specialist advice for people aged under 25.

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General Support

• Bromsgrove and Redditch Knowledge Bank - Explore and uncover local services nearest to you.
• Community Services Directory - Worcestershire - enables you to search for support or services in your area. You can also register your organisation to appear on the directory for Worcestershire residents to find you.
• Would you like a FREE Home Fire Safety Check from your local Fire and Rescue team? It includes free smoke alarms and more for those who are eligible.
• Get help with general health and mental wellbeing.
• Get help if you have a disability.
• Your local library from Worcestershire Libraries can provide signposting and referral, along with internet/wifi access.
• Contact the Bromsgrove Social Prescribing Team. Lots of things in life can make you feel unwell or overwhelmed. One in five people who visit their GP or health care professionals have problems that can't be solved with medical treatment. A Social Prescriber may be able to help.
• StreetLink - StreetLink exists to help end rough sleeping by enabling members of the public to connect people sleeping rough with local services that can support them
• Onside advocacy Onside advocacy offers help to people facing disadvantage to ensure they are treated fairly as equal citizens, with equal rights and have access to all the right services.

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Looking for a warm space?

Many local organisations that have opened free, warm, welcoming spaces for the public over this winter have registered the details of their offer on the  Warm Welcome Network so that anyone can search for local warm spaces in their area.  All 21 libraries in the county are registered as a warm space.  There is lots going on at libraries which offer free use of computers, free Wi-Fi, free events for all ages and much more. Additional information from Worcestershire County Council can be found here

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