The Better Together Hardship Fund launched in 2021 to support residents in need with food and essentials, heating, debt advice, housing advice and support. This is in addition to the help available through the Household Support Fund.
This is available to help Knowsley residents who are struggling to manage the extra costs of food and other essentials.
Several projects have been supported by the Hardship Fund, including:
- Additional benefit and money advice through Citizens Advice Knowsley and Prescot Advice
- A new project providing debt, housing and benefit advice to residents with mental health difficulties with Prescot Advice
- Help with energy costs through Energy Projects Plus
- Extra home safety items and checks with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
- Extension of the Council’s Emergency Support Scheme to all residents struggling to top up their prepayment energy meter. This was previously only available to residents on means tested benefits.
- Food and essential items (cleaning products, toiletries and hygiene products) are available through a number of local community partners and Knowsley Foodbank. Further details can be found below under ‘where can I get help with food?’
Where can I get help with food?
Food from Knowsley Foodbank
Residents can either:
- Obtain a voucher, from a local organisation (including many GPs, schools, Citizens Advice etc). Once presented to the foodbank, this is exchanged for food.
- Self-refer and have a telephone assessment through Knowsley Food Support by calling 0151 538 8243.
Food from community partners
Food is available through community organisations across the borough. The locations of the organisations and the support they offer with food and essentials is listed below by area.
Halewood
| Organisation |
Offer |
Torrington Drive Community Association (TDCA)
New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre, Lichfield Road, Halewood, L26 1TE
Open: Monday – Friday 9am-5pm
Tel: 0151 443 2168
E: tdcaonline.co.uk
|
Essential Boxes - including food items, drinks, etc
Clothing - children's coats
Activities - books, word searches etc
White goods and furniture – Used, where available
Social supermarket – can buy food at reduced prices |
Knowsley Foodbank
St Mary’s Church, Kenton Road, Halewood, L26 9TS.
Open: Saturday 10-12pm
Tel: 0151 673 1250
Foodbank mobile: 07988617016
Freephone: 0808 2759930
Email: [email protected] |
Emergency food for household to last 3 days.
Access to welfare benefits, debt and employment support and ‘baby basics’ for new/expectant parents
|
St Nicholas’ and St Mary’s Churches Halewood
St Nicholas’ Centre, Church Road Halewood L26 6LA
Open: Monday-Thursday 9-12pm
Tel: 0151 487 9965
Email: halewoodparish @btconnect.com |
Emergency Food Parcels |
Huyton
Organisation
|
Offer
|
Knowsley Foodbank
St Dominic’s Church, Southdean Road, Huyton, L14 8UL
Open: Thursday 12-2pm
Tel: 0151 673 1250
Foodbank mobile: 07988617016
Freephone: 0808 2759930
Email: [email protected]
|
Emergency food for household to last 3 days.
Access to welfare benefits, debt and employment support and ‘baby basics’ for new/expectant parents
|
Incredible Edible
Court Hey Park, Huyton, L16 3NA
Open: Tuesday 12-2pm; Friday 11-2pm (Community food club)
Tel: 07925529585 |
Community food club - people can become a free member and pick their own items from the shop. Costs:
- £3.50 for 10 items
- £5.00 for 15 items
- £10.00 for 30 items
|
Homestart Knowsley
55 Rupert Rd, Huyton, L36 9TB
Open: Monday- Thursday 9-5pm; Friday 9-4.30pm
Tel: 0151 480 3910
Website: https://homestartknowsley.org.uk/
Email: [email protected] |
Support for families with at least one child under 11.
Can help with emergency food, clothing, baby basics, personal hygiene etc.
Also offer breastfeeding support, baby massage, baby yoga, stay and play (+families with additional needs/disabilities)
|
Swanside Community Centre
Willoughby Rd, Huyton, L14 6XA
Open: Monday- Friday 7.30-6.30pm
Tel: 0151 489 2370
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ swansidecc/
Email: [email protected] |
Support with food and essential items
|
Stockbridge Village
Organisation
|
Offer
|
Knowsley Foodbank
The Community Hub, The Croft, Stockbridge Village, L28 1NR
Open: Weds 12-2pm
Tel: 0151 673 1250
Foodbank mobile: 07988617016
Freephone: 0808 2759930
[email protected] |
Emergency food for household to last 3 days.
Access to welfare benefits, debt and employment support and ‘baby basics’ for new/expectant parents
|
Stockbridge Village Hub - Community food club
Community Hub, Unit 2, The Croft shops, Stockbridge Village, L28 1NR
Open: Tuesday 12-2pm; Thursday 9.30-12pm
Tel: 07793029740 or 07742056842
Email: stockbridgevillagehub @bighelpproject.com |
Food club – can select and purchase items at reduced rates.
£3.50 for 10 items
£5 for 15 items
£10 for 30 items
All fruit and veg is free - varies on the day what is in |
Kirkby
Organisation
|
Offer
|
Knowsley Foodbank
St Andrews Church, Highfield, Tower Hill, Kirkby L33 1ZF
Open: Monday 12-2pm
Tel: 0151 673 1250
Foodbank mobile: 07988617016
Freephone: 0808 2759930
Email: [email protected] |
Emergency food for household to last 3 days.
Access to welfare benefits, debt and employment support and ‘baby basics’ for new/expectant parents
|
Knowsley Foodbank
The Kirkby Centre, Norwich Way, Liverpool L32 8XY (located underneath the Library - look for 'Poco's Coffee Shop)
Open: Tuesday 12-2pm
Tel: 0151 673 1250
Foodbank mobile: 07988617016
Freephone: 0808 2759930
Email: [email protected] |
Emergency food for household to last 3 days.
Access to welfare benefits, debt and employment support and ‘baby basics’ for
new/expectant parents
|
Centre 63
Old Hall Lane, Kirkby, L32 5TH
Open: Monday- Friday 8.30-5pm
Social supermarket open Wednesday 10-2pm
Tel: 0151 549 1494
Email: [email protected] |
Social supermarket
YES project-Advice and support with homelessness/ housing /property pool
Money & Debt- new benefits /budgeting
Floating Tenancy Support |
Prescot, Whiston, Cronton, Knowsley Village
Organisation
|
Offer
|
Knowsley Foodbank
Salvation Army Prescot, Warrington Road, L35 5UA
Open: Weds 12-2pm
Tel: 0151 673 1250
Foodbank mobile: 07988617016
Freephone: 0808 2759930
Email: [email protected] big-help.info
|
Emergency food for household to last 3 days.
Access to welfare benefits, debt and employment support and ‘baby basics’ for new/expectant parents |
The Park Pantry Community Food Club
The Pavillion, Eaton St, Prescot L34 6HD
Open: Weds 11.30-1.45pm
Call: Jo Burke, 07526603529
Web: www.eatonstreetpark. org.uk |
Residents chose 10 items for £3.50p in the community food club.
Emergency food parcels for collection.
|
Al’s Arc
40 Eccleston Street, Prescot, L34 5QJ
Open: Monday-Friday 9-4pm
Tel: 07939 556287
Al’s Activity & Respite Centre on Facebook |
Food shops, detergents & toiletries, non-perishable goods.
Clothing along with blankets hats gloves scarves etc. |
Where can I get help with fuel?
Prepayment meters
Access to fuel vouchers for prepayment energy meters is available through the Council’s Emergency Support Scheme.
Residents with a prepayment meter for energy who are responsible for the household energy bills can apply. To be eligible, you should be at risk of self-disconnection (i.e. unable to afford to top up the meter and close to running out of credit).
Find out more about the Emergency Support Scheme and apply.
Contact your energy supplier
Contact them to discuss options to clear any outstanding debts, reduce any debt repayments or to request an emergency credit. The contact details for your supplier and the support available should be shown on your latest bill.
If you do not have a bill, visit their website. The main suppliers who offer pre-payment meters are listed below:
Contact Citizens Advice Knowsley/Jubilee Debt Advice to get help to manage debt with your energy bills
Both organsations can help you manage a debt with your energy bills and can help you manage other debts. This can include debts with energy ‘credit’ meters, where you pay for your energy costs by direct debit or by bill (not prepayment).
Help to reduce bills
The Council is working with Energy Projects Plus to provide free advice and help to residents with their energy costs.
Residents can call the Save Energy Advice Line for free on 0800 043 0151 Monday to Friday, 9-5, or email [email protected].
Through this, you will receive:
- Free and impartial advice on energy efficiency
- Free and impartial advice on issues associated with fuel poverty including relative costs of different fuels and support to increase income e.g. benefit health checks
- Information on local and national grants to fund home energy improvement measures
- Applications to schemes to support residents make their homes warmer and more energy efficient.
Residents who need more support will be directed on to other Energy Projects Plus services, including:
LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership) who provide home visits (or ‘virtual home visits’) to owner occupiers, private tenants and social housing tenants. Support can include:
- Installation of ‘easy measures’, including LED bulbs and draught-proofing.
- Assessment of white goods for possible free replacement.
- Support in reviewing energy bills and referral for benefits maximisation.
- Assistance with boiler repairs or replacements
- All clients will also be offered further energy efficiency/fuel poverty advice, based on the observations of our Energy Advisor.
Warmth For Health
This supports low-income homeowners with a chronic health condition, to fund the repair/replacement of heating appliances that don’t attract funding through the government’s flagship, ECO, programme. Heating measures can include:
- Repairing/replacing a faulty radiator
- Repairing/replacing a faulty electric fire
- Repairing/replacing a faulty gas fire
- Repairing/replacing a faulty hot water cylinder
- Repairing/replacing faulty central heating pipework
Other sources of support
Livv tenants can contact 0151 290 7000 and ask for an advisory team referral. This will include support to maximise your income.
ForHousing tenants can contact 0300 123 5522 or TESS [email protected].
Support direct from the Government - Cost of Living Payments
The Government announced three new payments:
- A £650 Cost of Living Payment (paid in two instalments)
- A Disability Cost of Living Payment
- A Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
These will be made automatically by the Government to people who are eligible. There is no application process. Visit the Government's website at for further details.