The UK cost of living crisis has been caused by the sudden increase in household bills, wholesale gas prices, and shop prices. As a result, inflation has reached a 40-year high. This is had a devastating impact on working class people across Manchester Gorton.

Below you can find a list of financial and wellbeing support for you and your family. I hope this information is helpful to you and if you need any additional assistance, please email afzal.khan.mp@parliament.uk

Government support and charities:

• You can find out what benefits you could claim by clicking here.
• Manchester City Council support.
• Check if you are entitled to claim Housing Benefits.
• See if you are entitled to getting extra payments to help with the cost of living by clicking here.
• Age UK is dedicated to supporting older households on the lowest incomes who are increasingly struggling to afford essential day-to-day costs. Email: mistry@ageuk.org.uk or call: 0800 678 1602 from 8am-7pm.  If you’d rather call their helpline, you can call 0808 223 1133, or click here to visit their website.
• Citizens Advice is an organisation that offer general advice and support on a wide range of topics.  You can speak to someone face-to-face at Levenshulme Inspire (Stockport Road, M19 3AR), every Friday between 10am-1pm.
• Get financial help and general advice from the British Gas ‘Energy Trust.’

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) support:

• Information about financial support and accommodation for adults with no recourse to public funds (NRPF).  Click here.
• Use this tool if you have No Recourse to Public Funds and are considering an application for social services, housing, and/or financial support.  Click here.
• For more information about benefits that are not public funds, click here

Money-saving support and advice:

Energy:

• Contact your energy supplier as soon as you can if you are worried about paying your energy bills or if you think you won’t be able to afford them.
• Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) – £400 one-off payment to households to help with bills over winter 2022-23.  This discount will be applied to your monthly household electricity bill for 6 months, starting in October 2022.  You should receive £66 in October ad November, then £67 in December, January, February and March.  For more information, click here.
• The Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) provides a discount on the gas and electricity unit prices paid by customers with a non-domestic energy supply contract.  This means, EBRS is available to all businesses, charities and public sector organisations.  See if you’re eligible by clicking here.
• For general information on all energy bills schemes, click here.
• See if you are entitled to use the Priority Services Register which is a free service that helps people who may need additional support, click here.
• The Energy Saving Trust can give you advice on how to save money on your energy bills.
• The Money Saving Expert website can give you support and advice on paying your energy bills.

Heating your home:

• Information about grants to help heat your home can be found here.
• If you are struggling to heat your home, the National Energy Action (NEA) can support you. Just call 08003047159 or visit their website.

Fuel:

• If you can’t afford to top up your prepayment metre, you can ask Manchester City Council or a food bank for a fuel voucher who may be able to provide one.
• Click here to find out if you qualify for receiving financial help to pay for fuel.
• If you are aged 67 or over, you may be able to claim between £100-£300 to help you pay your heating bills. Find out if you qualify for a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’ by clicking here.
• Save money on petrol by driving less and using public transport, walking, or cycling. Take advantage of Manchester’s great public transport services and Bee Network hire bikes!

Food banks:

• If you cannot afford essential food and supplies, have a look at my ‘Foodbank Map’ which includes all foodbanks, donation points, and community grocers in Manchester Gorton.
• Similarly, check out Greater Manchester Poverty Action group’s (GMPA) website for information of general advice in Manchester, click here.

Free meals for kids:

• If you are entitled to free school meals for your children, check here.
• Free school meal entitlement has now been extended to families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).  For more information, click here.
• At Levenshulme Inspire (Stockport Road, M19 3AR), kids can eat free and adults at a reduced cost on Wednesday evenings 3pm-5pm.

Free meals and discounted food:

• Pay £3 for £12 worth of food at Gorton Community Grocer (Highmead Street, M18 8PE), Thursdays 2-6pm.  Contact 0161 2223 633 to find out more information.
• At Gorton Food Hub, you can access low-cost food projects.  Currently, Mustafia Sharif Charity deliver grocer service from the hub every Monday from 10:30am-12pm.  For more information about accessing this, email zara@hmhc.co.uk or call 0161 2223 633. 
• You can pay £7.50 for £35 worth of shopping at The Bread and Butter Thing.  Text 07860 063304 with your full name, postcode and name of your hub you’ll be collecting from.  (click here to find your nearest hub).
• The Gherkin (312 Slade Lane, M19 2BY) is a wheel-chair friendly bistro offering free and/or discounted food and other items.  They host a ‘Pay what you Feel Meal’ every Monday 3pm-9pm, ‘Free Food for Refugees and Asylum Seekers’ every Monday 3pm-9pm, and their ‘Kindness Cabinet’ is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Call 07368808870 for more information.
• Food Cycle (Stockport Road, M19 3AR) provide free meals to everyone on Thursdays 7-8pm.
• Anson Community Grocer (38 Meldon Road, M13 0TR) produce £12 worth of food for £2.50 and are open Thursdays 12-6pm.  Call 07539268269. 
• Fallowfield and Withington Foodbank provide food parcels and a drop-in service.  You must be referred by your Housing Association, Citizens Advice, social worker or social prescriber. Tuesdays 12pm to 2pm at St Cuthberts (3 Palatine Road, Withington, M20 3LH), Wednesdays 5pm to 6.15pm at The Place (3 Palatine Road, M20 3LH), Fridays 12pm to 2pm at Union Chapel (2b Wellington Road, Fallowfield, M14 6EQ), Saturdays 10am to 12pm at Holy Innocents (2 Wilbraham Road, Fallowfield, M14 6JZ), call 07411 077 654 or email info@fallowfieldwithington.foodbank.org.uk  

Water:

• Click here to calculate how much water you use and get tips on how to reduce your water usage.
• If you need help with your water bill payments, contact United Utilities by calling 0800 072 6765, or just click here to visit their website.

Warm hubs: 

Warm hubs available in Levenshulme:

• The Bread and Butter Thing (Inspire, Stockport Road, M19 3AR) Fridays 11:30M-1:30pm.
• Levenshulme Old Library (Cromwell Grove, M19 3QE) Monday 9:30am-2:30pm.

Warm hubs available in Gorton:

• Gorton Library (Gorton Hub, 27 Garratt Way M18 8HE).  Monday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5pm, Tuesday 1pm to 8pm, Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday 10-1pm Self service / 1pm to 5pm.

Warm hubs available in Longsight:

• Longsight Library and Learning Centre (519 Stockport Road, M12 NE),  Monday and Tuesday 9am-8pm, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 9am-5pm.  For more information, call 0161 227 3706 or email longsightlibrary@manchester.gov.uk 

Warm hubs available in Fallowfield, Moss Side, and Rusholme:

• The Place at Platt Lane (Platt Lane M14 7FB).  They are open Monday – Saturday 9am-5pm throughout the winter months.   Call 0161 227 3744. 
• Moss Side Powerhouse Library (140 Raby Street, M14 4SL).  Call 0161 227 3758 or email powerhouselibrary@manchester.gov.uk

Warm hubs available in Whalley Range:

• St Margaret’s Centre Cozy Cafe (corner of Rufford Road and Whalley Road, M16 8AE).  They are open Thursdays 1-3pm.  For more information, email stmargaretscentre1@gmail.com
• JNR8 Youth and Community Centre offer a brew and chat event on Fridays 10am-12pm. (82 Cromwell Avenue, M16 0BG).  Call 0161 881 3744 or email wrcommunityforum@gmail.com

Mental Health Services:

For many, the cost of living crisis has been extremely difficult and worrisome. This is why I have collated a few local mental health charities and services who can support you if you are dealing with anxiety during this stressful financial time.

• Manchester Mind
• The Oasis Centre
• www.samaritans.org Call: 116 123 (service open 24/7).