Cost of living support
We are very aware that the cost of living has dramatically increased in recent months and we want to support our families who may be affected by this.
We have provided some links below to various charities, support groups, advice centres and local council support.
Benefit support
The GOV.UK website details benefits which may be available to you.
The Turn2us calculator is also very useful to check which benefits and grants you may be able to claim for.
Citizens Advice
CAB can advise on how to access benefits and other financial support, as well as how to find support for essential costs such as rent, food and energy bills.
Cost of Living government payments
If you receive certain benefits you should receive a cost of living payment with no need to apply. The government website explains this.
Do make sure you do not give any financial information out to companies saying you are due a cost of living payment- these are scams and should be reported.
Debt
If you have money worries and are struggling with debt, Stepchange offer free advice.
Energy bills
There are some useful resources to be found on the Ofgem website as well as via MoneySavingExpert.
Food banks/Community kitchens
There are foodbanks in the local area- you can find your local one here. You will need a voucher to access this which can be issued by various agencies. Click here for more information.
If you are pregnant and/or have a child under 4 and meet the criteria, you may be eligible for Healthy Start vouchers.
Many local churches and groups offer hot meals- you can search for your nearest here.
The Borough also offers free lunches during the school holidays at various locations: https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich-food-programmes
There are several apps offering food very cheaply such as Olio and Too Good to Go.
Fivedinners also has a useful family meal planner which is free to use.
Free School Meals
London Grid for Learning have a free tool that you can use to check if your child is eligible for Free School Meals. You can access this via https://pps.lgfl.org.uk
To apply for Free School Meals and grants for School Journey and uniform, please visit the Royal Greenwich website.
Greenwich Supports
This website signposts to many local community groups and support networks as well as local free family activities and youth hubs.
Support for single parents
This website is a good source of information and support for single parent families.
Tax code checker
It is worth checking if you are on the right tax code as you may be able to receive a refund if you are overpaying. This calculator will help you to check.
Uniforms
As detailed above, you may be able to apply for a uniform grant through the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Our school runs pre-loved uniform stalls throughout the year and we are happy for parents to purchase uniform from supermarkets without the school logo to reduce costs.
Please see our uniform page for details.