Cost of Living Roadshow
Drop-in event in Arbroath to help residents struggling with costs of living
Rising food, energy and fuel costs are making life difficult for many people in Angus.
This page contains links to sources of help and advice from Angus Council, our community partners and external organisations and websites.
We'll update this page regularly with more information and advice as it becomes available.
Use the feedback form at the bottom of the page to let us know if there's anything you would like to see included on this page.
If you need to speak to someone
Our welfare rights advisors offer free confidential advice on issues related to money, debt and benefits.
Find out more and get in touch
If you need help to get online
The Vibrant Communities Team can help you communicate with providers.
You can use our public computers or we can help you use your own device or mobile.
To find out more email BSCommunities@angus.gov.uk or find us on Facebook:
Benefits, debt and money advice
Our advice adds up
A new campaign by Citizens Advice Scotland to encourage people to seek advice if they are struggling with the cost of living.
Angus Council: benefits and money advice
Angus Council: Funding, housing and employment for young people
Social Security Scotland: Information about benefits
Department for Work and Pensions: Find out about (DWP) benefits
Young Scot: What benefits can I claim in Scotland?
moneyadvice.scot: Free information and support on a wide range of debt-related issues
Money Advice Scotland: Free, regulated money advice service for people with money worries
StepChange Debt Charity: Help to deal with debt problems
Budgeting tools
Angus Council Budget Planner
Create your own personal budget plan to help take control of your finances.
MoneyHelper Budget Planner
Calculators to help you budget, save and cut back on costs.
If you are receiving Universal Credit you can ask your JCP work coach to refer you for Personal Budgeting Support. This free service is carried out by a local advice agency and can be delivered face-to-face or over the phone.
Broadband and phone
Visit the Moneyhelper website for tips on keeping your bills low.
The website also offers advice on saving money on your mobile phone.
BBC News: Cost of living: Government to simplify broadband access.
Business
FindBusinessSupport
Advice on reducing the cost of running your business
Children and families
Free school meals and school clothing grants
Education Maintenance Allowance
Lighthouse Kids Clothes Bank (Arbroath) on Facebook
Help paying for your childcare
Enter your details to find out how you can save money on childcare.
Homestart Angus
Practical help, reassurance and friendship for families with small children.
Employment
If you are considering working or increasing your current hours of work, check for vacancies on the Find a Job service.
Call into your local Jobcentre Plus office to access their job search terminals.
Invest in Angus have key workers who provide advice and assistance on a range of employability issues such as training grant applications and possible short term funding of childcare costs.
Energy costs
Scarf
Charity/social enterprise offering free and impartial energy saving advice to help people lower their fuel bills and carbon emissions.
Home Energy Scotland
Advice on reducing bills, going green and making your home warmer.
MoneyHelper
How to save money on gas and electricity bills.
Home Heating Support Fund
Financial support for people in Scotland who are at risk of limiting their own energy usage because of significant financial hardship.
How to optimise your boiler settings without reducing the heating levels
A guide from Nesta.
Tips for reducing the cost of working from home this winter
From Scottish Business News.
Warmer Homes Scotland
Funding and support to households struggling to stay warm and keep on top of energy bills.
Grants to help pay off energy debts
If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you could apply for a grant to help pay it off.
The following energy suppliers offer grants to their customers:
- Scottish Power Hardship Fund
- Ovo Energy Fund
- E.ON Energy Fund
- E.ON Next Energy Fund
- EDF Energy Customer Support Fund
- Bulb Energy Fund
If you can’t get a grant from your supplier, you may be eligible for a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust. You don’t have to be a British Gas customer to apply.
Food bills
Love Food Hate Waste.
An average family could save around £720 a year. Find out how to save money on food bills.
Too Good to Go
Connects customers to restaurants and stores that have surplus unsold food.
Food Hubs
Brechin – Brechin Community Pantry
Provides emergency food and other essential goods to feed people in need in our communities.
Forfar – S-Mart
Angus’s first Social Supermarket, tackling food insecurity and reducing food waste in our communities.
Forfar – Angus Upcycling Project
Provides food to people in need.
Kirriemuir – Kirriemuir Food Hub
Voluntary organisation with a mission to help combat food insecurity and reduce food waste.
Montrose Food Hub
Seeks to tackle food insecurity amongst those facing difficult times, through the provision of hampers containing food and other household essentials.
Grants
There are a range of personal charitable grants and benevolent funds to help people in financial need. For more information visit the Turn2Us website.
Crisis grants and community care grants
Strangs Mortification (for Forfar residents)
Housing costs
Help with Council Tax payments
Council Tax exemptions and discounts
Homelessness advice and support
Financial assistance for tenants who built up rent arrears as a result of COVID-19
MoneySavingExpert: What to do if you can't pay your mortgage
Libraries
ANGUSalive libraries have a new collection of books covering family finances, upcycling, cooking on a budget, repairing and more.
Reserve your copy to collect from your local library
Mental health, suicide prevention and crisis support
Contacts and information from Angus Council
Angus Heath and Social Care Partnership Mental Health and Wellbeing support
Health and addictions
Smoking
Healthier Scotland offers free support and advice to help you quit smoking. Contact the Tayside Smokeline on 0845 600 99 96 for details on local support sessions.
Alcohol and drugs
Help, advice and support with alcohol and drugs issues in Angus