Useful information and charities

We have contact details for various charities and organisations that can be of help, from supporting you with new baby costs, to helping with utility bills each month.

Live Well Swindon Hub:  Call 01793 465513 or text 07881 281797, or email livewell@swindon.gov.uk

Swindon Borough Council Emergency Assistance Team:  Call 01793 445500.

Citizens Advice Swindon:  Call 0344 499 4114 or 0808 278 7813, or email advice@caswindon.org.uk

Swindon Carers Centre:  Provides information and advice with benefits and tax credits for carers. Call 01793 531133 or email carers@swindoncarers.org.uk 

Swindon & Gloucester Mind:. Call 01793 432031 or email admin@sgmind.org.uk

Swindon Advocacy Movement:  Call 01793 542575 or email info@swindonadvocacy.org.uk

Healthwatch Swindon:  Call 01793 497777 or email info@healthwatchswindon.org.uk

Wiltshire Law Centre:  Call 01793 486926 or email info@wiltslawcentre.co.uk

Alzheimer’s Society:  Call 01793 485404 or email swindon@alzheimers.org.uk

Royal Voluntary Service:  Call 01793 466617 or email swindonsupportservices@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Voluntary Action Swindon:  Call 01793 538398 or email info@vas-swindon.org

Swindon Women's Aid:  Call 01793 610610 (helpline) or 01793 864984 (general enquiries) 

CAP UK (Christians Against Poverty):  They offer advice and assistance with debt help, job clubs and money courses amongst other things. Based at The Bridge Highworth. Visit www.CAPUK.org or call 0800 328 0006

Crosslight:  They provide face-to-face debt advice together with money education and budgeting support to individuals and families in need. Based in Pattern Church, Penzance Drive, Swindon SN5 7JL.  Call 020 70520318 or email info@crosslightadvice.org

Splitz Support Service:  Support services to people experiencing trauma of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Call 01225 777 724 or 01225 775276 or
email splitz@splitz.org or spa@fear-less.org.uk

Swindon Sisters Alliance:  They support people who are currently or have experienced domestic violence. Call: 07415 112345 or visit https://www.swindonsistersalliance.co.uk

Turning Point Swindon:  Offers support and long-term recovery to people with addiction issues. Call 01793 328150 or 0345 603 6993 or email MPACTreferrals@turning-point.co.uk

Nelson Trust:  Support and recovery for people whose lives have been torn apart by addiction. Call 01793 495812 or email Swindon.info@nelsontrust.com

Get help to buy food and milk

Women that are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk; find out more at https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

Maternity grant

The Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) is a one-off payment of £500 to support with the costs associated with a new baby. The grant is paid to those on certain income-based benefits and where there are no other children under 16 in the claimant’s family (exemptions apply). Claimants must demonstrate they have received maternal and/or child health advice by asking a health professional (i.e. midwife or GP) to complete the Health Professional Statement (Part 13 of the claim form). The claim form is available free of charge at GP Surgeries.

Growbaby Swindon

Providing essential clothing and equipment completely free of charge to local families in need with babies and toddlers and children under 5.

Growbaby Swindon at Pattern Church, Penzance Drive, Swindon SN5 7JL.

Email: hello@patternchurch.org

Free food Is available from these outlets:

Big Breakfast+ at the Pilgrim Centre Swindon. Free breakfast between 07.30 and 9.00am for anyone who is hungry. No referral necessary.

FoodCycle Swindon at the Pinetrees Community Centre, SN2 1QR. Free hot meals every Thursday, 6.30pm. No referral necessary.

Gorse Hill Community Fridge - open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 2pm. The aim of the fridge is to reduce food waste and to prevent good food from being thrown into landfill. It is also helps reduce food poverty in local communities. Food is donated by local supermarkets and is free to everyone!

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice Swindon's Financial First Aiders may be able to help you with:

  • Increasing your income through unclaimed benefits or grants
  • Reducing your outgoings through budgeting, access lower tariffs, shopping tips
  • Reducing energy usage
  • Accessing debt advice
  • Accessing emergency food or fuel vouchers

Call:  0344 499 4114 or 0808 278 7813 
Visit:  www.citizensadvice.org.uk/contact-form
Email: 
advice@swindon.cabnet.org.uk

Help with Council Tax

Call:  0345 302 2316
Email:  swindon.counciltax@secure.capita.co.uk

Swindon Borough Council cost of living help

SBC cost of living assistance and information:

Visithttp://www.swindon.gov.uk/costofliving

Retail discounts

Also view wide ranging details of support available and ways of saving money including retail discounts at https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov

Warm and Safe Wiltshire

They provide free and impartial advice on help with fuel debt, understanding fuel bills, switching energy suppliers and fuel tariffs.

Visit:  www.warmandsafewiltshire.org.uk
Email:  warmandsafe@cse.org.uk
Call:  0800 038 5722 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)

Home energy efficiency grant

Apply for a grant to improve home energy efficiency at https://swindonwiltshire-lad-applications.com

Water bills and water supply emergencies

Thames Water offers help to vulnerable and financially pressed residents. You may qualify for a 50% discount on your bill if your total household income is below £16,480. 

Call:  0800 316 9800
Visit:
  www.thameswater/helptopay

For assistance with water and waste water emergencies, their priority services register offers a completely free service to those that need it. To register: 

Call: 0800 0093652 (Option 3) (open 9am to 5pm)
Email:
  ecs@thameswater.co.uk

One of the major challenges that comes with the rising Cost of Living is that of mental health. If you're finding it tough to deal with the strains of today's pressures, then these agencies might be able to help you with your mental wellness.

Lift Psychology

Offers support through GP surgeries to people with common emotional, communication and mental health difficulties such as anxiety.

Call:  01793 836836
Visit:
  awp.lift-psychology@nhs.net 

Samaritans

Provides emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide. 

Call free: 116 123
Email:
  jo@samaritans.org

IPSUM

Helps people address issues such as mental, psychological and emotional health; loneliness and isolation; encourages an active lifestyle and positive change.

Call:  01793 695405
Email:
  admin@ipsum.care 

Other recommended websites

The following websites have been shared by professionals and are useful to maintain good mental health.

https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/
https://actionforhappiness.org/