Merton - Cost of living

School aged children may be eligible for Free School Meals, which currently also entitles you to supermarket vouchers for the school holiday period. To find out more visit https://www.merton.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools/free-school-meals

Provides information and advice on money and debt, benefits and taxes, housing, universal credit, employment and more. Specialist advice is also available for the disability welfare benefits service and for L&Q Housing residents. Citizens Advice also offers appointments at Wimbledon Guild.  To book a free appointment: 

Call 020 8946 0735

Email info@wimbledonguild.co.uk

Appointments takes place between 9.30am and 1.30pm on Mondays. They're usually at our offices in Wimbledon, although phone appointments are also available.  

 

Springfield Advice & Law Centre

Provides specialist advice and legal casework for debt, welfare benefits, housing and community care-related issues, prioritising patients of the South West London Mental Health NHS Trust. Call 020 8767 6884 or email info@springfieldlawcentre.org.uk

 

deafPLUS

Offers information and advice on benefits, housing, debt and employment for deaf and hard of hearing people, including in BSL. The national deafPLUS Advice Line offers similar support in BSL using online video platforms.

https://www.deafplus.org/deafplus-advice-line

 

Association for Polish Family PYZA

Provides information, advice and support to Polish and Eastern European communities in Merton, including for Ukrainian arrivals. Is also a member of the Merton Community Fridge Network, redistributing surplus food to residents in need. Call 07917401064 or email info@polishfamily.org.uk

 

Commonside Community Development Trust

Offers support with applying for benefits, housing advice and for families or adults in need.  Is also a member of the Merton Community Fridge Network, redistributing surplus food to residents in need. Call 020 8764 9582 or email Jenny@commonside.net

 

Age UK Merton

Provides information and advice to Merton residents of stage pension age and over including on benefits, housing, pensions and retirement. Call 020 8648 5792 or email advice@ageukmerton.org.uk

 

Wimbledon Guild Grants

If you live in Merton and need financial help Wimbledon Guild can offer you a one-off grant to pay for things like food, gas and electricity, replacing essential household appliances or buying school uniforms. If you need help, email welfare@wimbledonguild.co.uk

Merton community hub

If you need support with paying for bills or shopping, Merton Community Hub can provide a free foodbank voucher or an emergency food parcel. Find out more https://mertoncommunityhub.org.uk/

 

Mertons Community Fridge

Redistributes surplus fresh food to those in need. If you would like to receive a free food parcel for yourself or someone else and want to help Sustainable Merton reduce food waste, please visit Morden Baptist Church, Crown Lane, Morden SM4 5BL, on WEDNESDAYS (16.30 - 18.00) and THURSDAYS (13.30 - 15.00) when food parcels will be handed out by your local Fridge Friends. Use the online contact form or email communityfridge@sustainablemerton.org

 

Wimbledon Foodbank (Trussell Trust Network)

Emergency food support for Merton residents, with foodbanks located in Wimbledon, Mitcham, Morden and Pollards Hill. A voucher is required. The localtions and opening times can be found here https://wimbledon.foodbank.org.uk/locations/

 

Dons Local Action Group

Provides emergency food parcels to households as well as bulk food deliveries to other food support organisations. Call 0203 301 4511 or email info@donslocalaction.org

 

Merton Growbaby

Working through Wimbledon Foodbank to support parents with children under 5yrs old with provision of items like milk formula, wipes, nappies and toiletries. Call 0208 544 0126 or email mertongrowbaby@gmail.com

 

Holiday Activities and Food Clubs

HAF clubs will be running in the summer holiday of 2022. The clubs offer activities and nutritious meals for Merton primary and secondary school aged children. These activities are free for children and young people who are eligible for free school meals and for those referred by specialist services. To find out more https://www.merton.gov.uk/communities-and-neighbourhoods/events/fun-food#:~:text=The%20HAF%20clubs%20are%20part%20of%20the%20Government%E2%80%99s,and%20childcare%20providers%20to%20provide%20the%20HAF%20programme.

 

Local energy saving advice and support

A partnership between Age UK Merton, Wimbledon Guild, Merton Council and Thinking Works, on hand to provide you with free, confidential advice on transport, benefits, debt and housing support. To find out more https://www.wimbledonguild.co.uk/warm-well

 

Priority Service Register

Your energy supplier can work with you to agree a payment plan for your energy, so contact them as soon as possible to get onto their ‘Priority Services Register’, which is a free support service to help people in vulnerable situations. Each energy supplier and network operator offer it. To find out more https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/getting-extra-help-priority-services-register

 

Thinking Works

Thinking Works provides Winter Warmth home visiting and telephone advice services. Thinking Works can also see if you are eligible for grants for insulation and heating works. This service is for residents aged 65 or over, or those with a long-term health condition or disability, or those on a low income. Call 0800 118 23 27 to find out more https://www.thinkingworks.co.uk/winter-warmth

 

Sustainable Merton

Access Sustainable Merton’s Energy Saving Handbook, for a wide range of steps you can take to reduce your energy consumption at home and save money. Learn about everything from saving money on your water bill to advice on larger purchases like heat pumps and solar panels. To find out more https://www.sustainablemerton.org/energy

 

National regional funding support

Check benefits and financial support you can get https://www.gov.uk/check-benefits-financial-support

 

Winter Fuel Payment

A £100 to £300 fuel payment for people born on or before 5 October 1954. To learn more https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment

Cold Weather Payment

A £25 payment for every 7 days of very cold weather between November and March.  To learn more https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment

 

Warm Home Discount

A £150 discount for some people getting Pension Credit or some people in low-income household. To learn more https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme

 

Energy Company Obligation (EOC)

Check your eligibility for ECO, a funding support mechanism to install energy efficiency upgrades, reduce carbon emissions and address fuel poverty, paid for by energy suppliers. Check your eligibility and find out more on the Simple Energy Advice https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/grants website or phone 0800 444 202.

 

Warmer Homes Programme

The Mayor of London’s Warmer Homes programme provides grants of up to £5,500 for heating, insulation and ventilation improvements for low-income Londoners who own their own homes or rent privately. To find out more visit https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/housing-and-land/improving-quality/warmer-homes

 

NHS Healthy Start Scheme

Families who qualify can get vouchers to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk. Telephone: 0345 607 6823 Website https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

 

National Debtline Breathing Space Scheme

A scheme to give households time to receive debt advice and find a solution to sort out their debt problems. Breathing space will last for 60 days as long as applicants remain eligible during which time all creditors who have been included will be informed and must stop any collection or enforcement activity. To learn more visit https://www.nationaldebtline.org/fact-sheet-library/breathing-space-ew/