Cost of living support

If you are struggling to pay bills and cover essential costs of living, you are not alone. Here are some places that can help, in and around Hartford. 

Cheshire West and Chester Council

Cheshire West and Chester Council provides a range of cost-of-living services: 

  • On the Cheshire West and Chester Council website, you can find out about the Household Support Fund, debt advice and much more. You can also sign up for an e-newsletter, to stay up to date with new cost-of-living services
  • Take a look too at the Cheshire West and Chester Council Live Well website. It has lots of useful information about other support services that can help
  • For face-to-face advice, Let’s Talk is a weekly drop-in session where you can get advice about wellbeing and cost of living support. There are two Let’s Talk sessions in the local area: 
    • Northwich, Community Hub, Unit 7, Barons Quay, Weaver Point Way, Northwich, CW9 5FT
    • Winsford Community Hub, High Street, Winsford, CW7 2AS
      See website for opening times. There are also other Let’s Talk sessions in other areas across Cheshire West.
  • The Northwich Resident Assistance Point is held in Northwich Memorial Court (Brio Leisure Centre) – see website for opening times. They can help with guidance about Cheshire West and Chester Council services e.g. Blue Badge, Concessionary travel, Council Tax, Benefits and housing, Waste collection, StreetCare etc. Go along for one-to-one advice
  • If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, please contact the Cheshire West and Chester Council Housing Options team. You can do so online or call 0808 175 3595 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am – 4.30pm) and (Wednesday 1pm – 4.30pm). If you are not threatened with homelessness within 56 days but would like some early help, please contact Cheshire West & Chester Council’s partner, ForFutures.
  • Families who receive Free School Meals and need help with essential food costs during the summer holidays can apply for support through the Council’s Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). Applications for summer holiday payments will open on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 and close on Monday, 31 August 2026. You can apply online.
  • From September 2026, all pupils in households receiving Universal Credit will become entitled to Free School Meals. Pupils who already qualify because their household earnings are £7,400 or less will continue to qualify. The change will extend entitlement to more families, meaning more children will be able to apply to receive Free School Meals.
  • To ease financial pressure at a very difficult time, Cheshire West and Chester Council has introduced a local exemption so that people living with a terminal illness in Cheshire West and Chester no longer have to pay Council Tax.

Children’s centres

Starting Well Children’s Centres provide services for prospective parents, children and their families, including Stay and Play sessions, help and advice. There are centres in Victoria Road Northwich, Leftwich, Barnton, Weaverham, Winsford and other areas. 

Citizens Advice Cheshire West

For information about debt help and much more, contact Citizens Advice Cheshire West. 

Energy support

With energy prices still high, it can be difficult to manage bills and stay warm – however, there are many organisations that can help. Take a look at some of the local and national energy support services on offer.

There is also support available to households using heating oil.  

Photo of apples by sydney Rae on Unsplash

Food banks and food hubs

Mid Cheshire Foodbank provides nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people in crisis. The organisation is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.  

There are also several local food hubs, where anyone can buy food at affordable prices – a great way to save money, and help the environment by reducing food waste. The food is based on surplus donations from supermarkets and other sources. 

  • With the Changing Lives Together Very Green Grocery, you can sign up to become a member for free, and you can visit twice a week to pick up groceries for a £8 donation. You will walk away with groceries with a general retail value of between £25 – £40. There are two local hubs: Winsford Community Centre and Northwich, The Old School House. See website for opening times.
  • Northwich Community Support has three food hubs: St John’s Church Hall, Cuddington, The Lighthouse, Weaverham, and Rudheath Social Club. See website for opening times.

Free Cakes for Kids

Free Cakes for Kids is a community service providing free birthday cakes for families facing difficulties. Find out more about how to be referred for this service by emailing freecakesforkidsnorthwich@gmail.com.

Baby reading book. Photo by Izabelly Marques on Unsplash

Green Uniform and Baby Bank

Based in Winsford Community Centre, the Green Uniform and Baby Bank can help with the living costs associated with young families, by selling affordable items from a Community Shop. Visit their Facebook page for up to date info.

Healthy Start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under the age of four, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk under the Healthy Start scheme. Visit healthystart.nhs.uk for details online or call 0300 330 7010.

Holidays and Food programme

The Cheshire West Holidays and Food Programme offers holiday clubs for children during the school holidays. The clubs are for children and young people who are on benefits related free school meals (FSM), helping them to access healthy food and take part in fun activities. 

Motherwell Cheshire and Edna’s Laundrette

Motherwell is a charity that offers advice, peer support, mentoring and crisis support for women and girls, based in Winsford. They also run Edna’s Community Laundrette and offer free washing and drying services.

Contact us

If you know of any additional services we can add to this web page, please contact asst.clerk@hartfordparishcouncil.org.uk.