Cost of Living Support

We know this is a challenging time and many families across London and the UK are facing financial difficulties. On this page, you'll find services and resources which provide practical help and/or emotional support. Some of these are local to the Borough of Southwark and others are either London or UK wide. 

Government & Local London Borough of Southwark Advice

• Cost of Living advice from www.gov.uk - for advice on bills, childcare, benefits, housing and travel  
• Southwark Council Cost of Living Support
• Southwark Council Hardship Fund - help with household bills

Food Banks, Meals and Warm Spaces

• The Trussell Trust - Food Banks
• Warm Welcome Spaces - warm and welcoming spaces for free for the public this winter

Support with Energy Costs

You may be able to apply directly to your energy supplier for grants and hardship funds to help with energy debts. 

• British Gas Energy Support Fund 
• Scottish Power Hardship Fund
• OVO Energy financial support
• E-ON Next financial support (in partnership with Charis)
• EDF financial support (in partnership with Charis) 
• BULB energy financial support
• Octopus Energy Financial Assistance

Haberdashers' Support for Families

• Hardship Fund - parents can apply for financial support with school trip fees, uniform, music tuition, equipment, books etc. The support provided will be at the discretion of the Principal and decisions will be made on a case by case basis. 
• Contact us at Borough Academy - If you are considering making a Hardship Fund application or if you would like to talk to us about other support available, please contact Mr Euan Paterson via boroughreception@habstrustsouth.org.uk

• Childcare Vouchers - Borough Academy is registered to receive childcare vouchers through Computershare Voucher Services. These can be used towards payments via ParentPay for extra-curricular activities, such as tuition, after school activities, trips and visits. Parents are able to locate and select our account to make payment via our user ID number 0027000238, setting name or postcode.

  For further information, please see the links below:

  Computershare Voucher Services

• How to register childcare vouchers
• Help paying for childcare: Childcare vouchers and other employer schemes - GOV.UK

 Other Support

• Victim Support - www.victimsupport.org.uk 
• Young Carers - www.carers.org
• Young Minds - www.youngminds.org.uk 
• Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS, previously CAMHS) - www.nhs.uk
• Imago - Southwark Young Carers - supports young people caring for others
• Southwark Early Help - family support
• Kooth - Southwark Wellbeing Hub - mental health and wellbeing support
• The Nest - mental health and wellbeing drop-in service for young people and parents