Financial Support for Families
We recognise that these are challenging time for many of our families with the cost of living increasing.
We are keen to explore different ways we can offer support with this, if anyone has any suggestions please feel free to get in touch.
The following links provide details of the different supports available from East Ayrshire Council. This includes links to a variety of grants and information regarding employment services, public wifi, and how to access free sanitary products.
Turn2Us
The website https://www.turn2us.org.uk is a useful tool to see what support you may be entitled to. From support with cost of living, to seeing what financial support you could be entitled to, Turn2Us is a national charity who can provide financial help and signposting to grants, benefits and funds.
Use the benefit calculator, grant search or contact them directly for support through their helpline.
Scottish Child Bridging Payment
All children and young people who receive free school meals on the basis of low income or on local authority discretion to promote wellbeing are eligible Scottish Child Bridging Payment
Scottish Welfare Fund
A Crisis Grant aims to help people, who are on benefits or have a low income, who are in crisis because of a disaster or an emergency. Scottish Welfare Grant
Five Family Payments
If you are getting tax credits or certain benefits, you could be entitled to five family payments. https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/asset-storage/production/downloads/5-family-Payments-flyer-March-2022.pdf
Support with Energy Payments
Paying for electricity and gas can be really difficult at any time of year but as winter approaches the problems get worse. It pays to consider changing your energy supplier to one who can help with reducing fuel costs.
Lemon Aid Fuel Poverty services specialise in advising and helping customers reduce costs and offer the following advice on some energy issues that households commonly face. You can find out more using the link below: Lemonaid
Warm Home Discount Scheme
If you are on a low income you could get off money off your electricity bill for winter 2022 to 2023 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The scheme will reopen again in November 2022. The money is not paid to you – it’s a one-off discount on your energy bill, between October and March. You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter. The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.
Follow the link below for full details including eligibility and links to providers’ websites. https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme
Citizens’ Advice
If money is something that is on your mind, Citizens’ Advice offer a great tool to help you look at increasing your income by checking you are claiming everything you are entitled to, reducing your bills and easing the cost of daily living. https://moneymap.scot/
Food Provision
Information about your local food community sites can be found below: Community Food Provision Sites
Free School Meals/ Clothing Grants 2022-23
Information on how to apply for Free School Meals and clothing grants can be found below: Free School Meals and Clothing Grants
Parent Club
There is also a variety of information on the Parent Club Website
