Cornwall’s Cost of Living Crisis

This crisis is bigger than any individual project or church and we strongly encourage you to work in partnership with others. This is a good opportunity to build new relationships in your area and work alongside others for the common good. New resources and financial support packages are being announced all the time – we will bring you the most recent advice on this page. If you’re reading this and have a suggestion to add please email info@transformation-cornwall.org.uk

Supporting Individuals

The Cornwall Well Being Guide Winter 2022-23 is a fantastic one-stop shop full of links to local cost of living support of all types.

Help with finances

Local Support

• The Worrying about money leaflet guides Cornish residents through four simple steps towards help with their money worry. You can order copies of this from info@transformation-cornwall.org.uk

• Christians Against Poverty (CAP) have several centres in Cornwall. Head office will link people to their nearest centre managers. CAP UK | Get help near you

• The Household Support Fund - Cornwall Council has recently been announced – watch this space for more information about how households in need can access one off cash-payments.

• Citizens Advice operate across Cornwall and will signpost people to the help they need.

National Support

• Turn2us have a simple benefits calculator to help individuals check they are receiving the right benefits, as well as information on applying for grants: Get Support - Turn2us

• Poverty makes people vulnerable to exploitation, which is why we’re always keen to highlight how you can report concerns about modern slavery: The Clewer Initiative | Report It

• Pensioners may find this information about pension credit and more helpful.

Help with food and clothing

• The Cornwall Council food support map is a great way to find your available nearest food support.

• The Transformation Cornwall Food Bank List is available here.

Help with energy

Local Support

• Warm Spaces are opening up across Cornwall for people to find heat, hot drinks and company. This map brings all the venues together on one webpage. The national Warm places map is also a useful place to check for updates to Cornish venues. Here is a link to register your Warm Space.

• Community Energy Plus are the experts providing energy support and advice in Cornwall: Community Energy Plus, Cornwall's Independent Energy Experts (cep.org.uk)

• Some foodbanks across the area are also able to provide Fuel vouchers to those in need. Enquire locally to see if your local one does.

• Age UK has a new direct point of contact for individuals living in Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly. Call 01872 266383 or email@ageukcornwall.org.uk. Check out their vast array of service here.

National Support

• CAB have compiled information about national grants and benefits available

• Money Saving Expert has compiled the latest information on each energy supplier’s specific hardship grants: each energy supplier's specific hardship grants

• British Gas Energy Trust Grants are not just for their struggling customers
  

• This fact sheet about the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme is regularly updated.

• GoCompare have developed an interactive energy cost calculator tool to find out how much something costs to run. Use the calculator to pick the appliances you want to compare and select how long they’ll be in use for.

Support for Local Groups, Projects and Churches

• Our sister organisation in The Together Network, Wellsprings Together in Leeds, have produced a cost-of-living toolkit which includes some great specific ideas for churches to reduce their energy use this winter. Much of their advice can be applied to any building. Check out pages 3 onwards for help with topics including: tips on efficient use of the heating system and ideas for how to make people comfortable whilst saving energy.

• The Energy Saving Trust has great advice for community groups wanting to save energy.

• The Church of England Environment Progamme’s LED lighting webinar is worth a watch.

• For longer term planning, did you know the CoE has an energy footprinting tool to help you calculate your building’s carbon footprint?

• A Rocha UK Eco Church resources and the C o E Environment Programme which aims to enable churches to become net zero carbon by 2030 are great sources of advice.