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Cost of living

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The Hub invites you to our Cost of Living Event on Friday 16th February 2024, 09:30 - 11:30 at St Marks Hall, St Marks Hall Field, Rochford, SS4 1PT.

Advice on: Staying warm, elderly support, local school uniform, financial support, health & wellbeing, family support, winter warmer packs and more...

Enjoy a warm drink and a cake with us. Call 01268 779999 ext 2 for more info.

The Council is determined to do everything it can at a local level to support people as the cost-of-living rises. This page provides useful information, advice and support from the Council , DWP and other organisations.
 
The Council is also working with partner organisations to ensure that support continues to be targeted to the most vulnerable residents in the district and welcome any additions to the information we share with residents. Please email to partnerships@rochford.gov.uk

These pages will be regularly reviewed and updated in line with any government changes in support and any local information provided by partners. 

The Council, working closely with its partner Brentwood Borough Council, has produced a toolkit of assets and posters to support our #ByYourSide campaign.  If you would like to support and share #ByYourSide campaign you can download the toolkit here.

The links are for support and information. They are not an endorsed or approved by Rochford District Council.

Help for Households - Get government cost of living support

Cost of living support Factsheet - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Support with bills and money

Support to make the most of your money and find help if you need it and includes help with budget planning, help with energy bills and other useful information.

Rochford information

How to Claim Benefits

Financial Help and Money Advice

Other useful information

Cost of living support government fact sheet - 26 May 2022

Energy bills support government factsheet - 21 September 2022

Money Manager for Universal Credit claimants

​Reduce your Energy Bills 

Money Saving Boiler Challenge

Get help with the cost of living - MoneySavingExpert

Cost of living crisis: help, advice and UK news - Which?

Coping With The Cost Of Living. Debt Advice. StepChange

Help with your broadband bills

Support with food

Advice and guidance on eating on a budget, finding your local foodbank in the district, money saving tips, support organisations and cheap recipes. 

The Hub at MegaCentre Rayleigh - Tel: 01268 779999

Budget recipes

What can I make with... recipe finder

30 delicious recipes you can cook for under £1

Support with wellbeing

Information on local support organisations to support physical and mental health wellbeing. 

Rochford information

Leisure facilities

Looking after your mental health

Live Well Link Well

The Livewell Campaign

Maintaining a healthy weight 

Crouch Walks - South of the River

Healthy homes and independent living

Other health support

Voluntary Organisations

Castle Point & Rochford Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022-25

Other useful information

Able Like Mabel

The Hub - The MegaCentre Rayleigh 

Ramblers Wellbeing Walks Rochford

Avoiding a fall

Essex Wellbeing Service 

Cost of living assistance. Help with the Cost of Living crisis. | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

Keep well this winter | Age UK

Go Green

Advice on how you can reduce your own energy costs to go green such as retrofitting house to improve their energy efficiency and also enjoy the District's green spaces.

Rochford information

Crouch Walks - South of the River

Reuse and recycling in the District 

Other useful information

Clean Air Hub

Go Jauntly Walking App

A helpful guide to draught-proofing - Energy Saving Trust

How to save money on my energy bills - Energy Saving Trust

Support with work

Advice and support to help you work such as cost of living payments and childcare vouchers. 

Universal Credit

Working Families | Cost of Living Support for Families - Working Families


Support with running a business

The new Energy Bill Relief Scheme is cutting energy prices for businesses, charities and public-sector organisations such as schools and hospitals. If you're on a default or variable tariff your prices will also be automatically cut, but you may be able to save more by moving to a new fixed price contract. Please beware of scams. You DO NOT need to apply for the scheme  For further information please visit the .gov.uk website. 

Reduce your business costs and save money

Commissioned by Rochford District Council (using the UK Shared Prosperity Fund), Colbea and Auditel are offering any business with a premises in the Rochford District, a FREE commercial cost review of all your overheads. This will identify current usage and spend, and highlight potential opportunities for improved service, reduced admin and lower cost, through the ‘Rochford Business Cost Reduction Programme’.

If you would like further information or have any questions, please contact Colbea on 01206 548833 or email enquiries@colbea.co.uk

To furtherreduce your business running costs, you can also develop a Low Carbon Reduction Plan for FREE, which will help lower your energy bills too! Rochford District Council has funded Colbea to assist you with this by working with sustainability experts. Please find out more on our Business Events page 

For FREE financial advice, including debt advice and to find out all about the different finance options available to your business, please visit Let’s Do Business Group 

You can also access the Cost of Living Hub on the Business Debtline website 


Ask the Leader Webinar

On 1st December 2022, The former leader of Rochford District Council,  Cllr Simon Wootton, held an online webinar where he led a panel answering questions directly from residents and local businesses about the Cost of Living Crisis.

Cllr Wootton was joined by Kathy Kentish, Chief Executive, Citizen's Advice South Essex,  Ann Scott, Development Manager (Essex) of the Federation of Small Businesses, Tracey Lilley, Director of Communities and Health Brentwood & Rochford, Cllr Arthur Williams, portfolio holder for Communities and Health and Danielle Belton, portfolio holder for Climate and Economy.

You can access the full webinar here