• North Bristol Advice Centre provides free support, on matters including welfare benefits, debt advice and other financial matters.

• Citizens Advice Bristol provides free advice on issues such as housing and debt.

• Clean Slate offers advice on personal finances and job hunting. You can contact them for a phone or video call, or meet them for a face-to-face chat at Shire JTE Hub on Mondays from 9:30am-12:30pm.

• Talking Money provides advice about debt and money management.

• If you or a friend or relative are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call NHS crisis mental health support by dialling 111 (Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Select mental health option number 2.) Alternatively, The Samaritans by calling 116 123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org (Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.)

• The charity Womankind offers professional counselling, group psychotherapy, befriending and a helpline service that are all free to women who are on low incomes and are unable to pay to get support.

• Bristol Wellbeing College provides a wide range of free workshops, courses and weekly cafes to help people improve their wellbeing.

Local support:

• If you are homeless or are about to become homeless, contact Bristol City Council via email at HomelessnessAdvice@bristol.gov.uk or call 0117 352 6800. (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm. Closed Wednesday 12pm to 1.30pm.) Or call the Emergency Duty Team on 01454 615165 if you need help in the evening, at weekends or on public holidays.

• Call St Mungo’s Outreach Team on 0117 407 0330 (Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 8:00pm) if you are sleeping rough and need somewhere to stay. Or email bristolspot@mungos.org.

Local support:

• The Bright Green Homes project can support eligible Bristol residents to install energy saving measures to their home, including cavity wall insulation.

• Bristol Emergency Payment is a one-off emergency supply of supermarket vouchers that can be used to pay for food, clothing and essentials.

• Baby Bank Network provides free essentials for babies, including second-hand baby clothes, cots, prams and toys. Your health visitor can also refer you to Baby Bank.

Other support:

• Dogs Trust is offering support for veterinary fees for dog owners who are experiencing homelessness.

• For confidential advice on a range of issues, you can call Bristol Citizens Advice on 0808 278 7957.

Government assistance:
(Note: This webpage gives an overview of the schemes offered by the Government.)

• You may qualify for the Warm Homes Discount, in which £150 is deducted from your electricity bill.

• You may be entitled to a Cold Weather Payment. You can apply if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0 degrees Celsius or less for at least 7 consecutive days. You would receive £25 for each day.

Local support:

• Family Action runs Food On Our Doorstep (FOOD) clubs to provide -quality food at a low cost, while also reducing food waste. It costs just £1 a year for family membership. Once a family has joined, they can buy a bag of tasty food items every week worth around £15 for just £4. The club closest to Bristol North West operates out of The Vench in Lockleaze on Thursday afternoons (3:00pm-4:30pm).

• FoodCycle offers a free 3-course vegetarian meal on a Wednesday evening in Easton and on a Saturday lunchtime in Barton Hill.

• Email Feeding Bristol to find out what community services are available in your area.

• North Bristol Foodbank‍ ‍

• North West Bristol Foodbank

• The University of Bristol has a range of hardship funds available to its students.

• The University of the West of England provides grants of up to £500 to help students with unexpected payments.

• If you were born on or before 22nd September 1959, you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. This is known as a Winter Fuel Payment.