Cost of Living Support

Join the campaign helping residents with the cost of living

As the days grow colder and heating bills rise, we’re again boosting promotion of cost of living support – and encouraging those struggling financially in the Royal Borough to seek help before problems escalate.

Today we’re relaunching ‘Here to Help’, our promotional campaign bringing together a range of cost of living support available from the council, government and local community partners.

This year’s campaign also highlights how we can all play our part during these challenging times by being a good neighbour and looking out for each other, especially those who are vulnerable, unwell or elderly.

New-look webpages and a new support service

Those facing difficult decisions around food, rent, heating or other essentials are encouraged to visit our refreshed ‘Here to Help’ webpages to see what help might be available and also check the free benefits calculator at www.entitledto.co.uk to see whether they could be missing out on national assistance.

We’re also launching a new service to help maximise the income of residents. If a resident would like to discuss their income with a dedicated officer from our Financial Inclusion Team, they should email financial.inclusion@rbwm.gov.uk and an appointment can be arranged.

Those in need who don’t have online access can still call 01628 683800 or visit the webpages using the public-access computers at all libraries, or speak with a librarian for advice around cost-of-living support and/or getting online.

Helping those most in need – DWP Household Support Fund

Earlier this year, we were given £1.17m in the latest round of the DWP Household Support Fund to help households most in need through to April 2024: those residents in severe financial hardship and at risk of problems escalating. Applications remain open to local adults in financial need.

Thank you to our 15 frontline community partners, who are helping us identify those residents in greatest need to receive a one-off cash payment of £145 and helping them to explore wider cost of living support around food, debt relief, and benefits.

Citizens Advice East Berkshire is the point of contact for residents who would like to put themselves forward for support. They should email hsf@caeb.org.uk in the first instance, or otherwise call 0808 278 7914. Citizens Advice also has a drop-in service at their office in 4 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am to 12pm.

See our website for information about community partners and the FAQs. If someone previously received the Household Support Fund, before 10 July 2023, they may reapply. Applications cannot be made directly to the council.

Some of this money is also being used to provide food vouchers for families in receipt of free school meals during the school holidays, including at Christmas. Families should contact their schools to find out more.

Ways you can support residents

Thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign since it first launched last year.

• Please continue to direct those in need within your communities to our ‘Here to Help’ webpages – or give them our flyer (printable version attached) summarising the support available
• If you’re responsible for public-facing buildings, or public noticeboards, please download and display our poster

Please share our campaign posts on social media – #RBWMHereToHelp or #RBWMHowToHelp

For more information please download the RBWM Here to Help Leaflet