Cost of Living Resource
Are you worried about the increase in energy prices or the general increase in the cost of living? Check out the support available to Richmond residents struggling to pay bills.
ENERGY & WATER
- Energy Supplier - Speak to your supplier as many offer support and grants. The following list from Citizen's Advice details energy suppliers who offer grants to their customers:
- British Gas Energy Support Fund - apply for a British Gas Energy Trust grant
- Scottish Power Hardship Fund - apply for a Scottish Power Hardship Fund grant
- Ovo Energy Fund - apply for an Ovo Energy Fund grant
- E.ON Energy Fund - apply for an E.ON Energy Fund grant
- E.ON Next Energy Fund - apply for an E.ON Next Energy Fund grant
- EDF Energy Customer Support Fund - sign up to the priority services register to apply for an EDF Energy grant
- Octopus ‘Octo Assist Fund’ - apply for an Octopus grant
- Shell Energy Support Fund - apply a Shell Energy grant
- British Gas Energy Trust - Will support anyone regardless of supplier
- Citizens Advice - Energy - Information and support around bills and the cost of living crisis
- WaterSure and WaterHelp - Support with water bills from Thames Water
- SW London Energy Advice Partnership - SWLeap provide free home energy assessments and advice for disabled residents, including LED bulb replacement, radiator bleeding and radiator coils
- Hampton Fund Fuel Grant - for residents who live in Hampton, Hampton Hill, Hampton Wick, Teddington, Twickenham or Whitton and be on a low income
- Richmond Parish Lands Crisis Grants - offer a fast response to help with urgent living expenses for residents of TW9, TW10, SW13 and SW14 (have to have an organisation apply on your behalf)
- Richmond Council Fuel Grant Scheme - Richmond residents can apply for up to £170 towards their annual energy bill (reopens January 2023)
- Winter Fuel Payment - If you were born on or before 25 September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills
- Thinking Works - If you are a Richmond resident, have a long term health condition such as diabetes, have a low income, or are aged 65+ you are eligible for a free Winter Warmth Assessment
- Go Compare - An interactive energy cost calculator tool to find out how much something costs to run. Use the calculator below to pick the appliances you want to compare and select how long they’ll be in use for.
RICHMOND COUNCIL
- Information, Grants & Assessments – Household Support Fund & Grants and Heating Assessments
- Richmond Council Cost of Living Hub - information about what is available in the Borough for residents
BENEFITS & FINANCIAL ADVICE
- turn2us Grant Search – Local (Hampton, Richmond Parish Lands, Barnes Fund)
- Richmond Citizens Advice - Benefits Calculator & General Money Advice
- Crosslight Advice – Debt Advice in Twickenham
- Crosslight Money Course - free budgeting course that is available online as a live course or e-learning option, available to all. Face to face course in Twickenham branch in November
- London Mayor - Cost of Living Help – London wide support
- Ruils Pathways Service - Advice and support for disabled clients with complex housing, benefits, health and social care needs
- StepChange - Provide free, confidential and expert debt advice and money guidance
- National Debtline - Give free and independent debt advice over the phone and online, including advice on energy bills
- Debt Advice Foundation - National debt advice and education charity offering free, confidential support and advice to anyone worried about loans, credit and debt
- Money Helper - Joins up money and pensions guidance to make it quicker and easier to find the right help
OTHER
- Richmond Foodbanks – various locations and requires a voucher
- The Real Junk Food Project (TRJFP) – various locations and pay-as-you-feel cafe
- Richmond Aid - Surplus 2 u Food Stall – based in Teddington every Wednesday, free surplus food
- Food for Thought – based in Heathfield and Whitton, free surplus food
- Richmond Hygiene Bank – Sanitary products and cleaning agents