On this page you will find information about support available to help with the cost of living rises, including links to websites, information sheets and blog posts.

Benefits Information and Financial Support

Childcare Choices – Enter your details on the website to help find out how you can save money on your childcare.
entitledto’s free benefits calculator can help you find out what you might be able to claim.
Financial help if you have children. Includes help when having a baby or adopting, child benefit and tax credits, support for childcare.
Lewisham Council are supporting households as well as signposting people to other support you could be eligible for. Visit their Cost of living crisis webpage.
Apply for free school meals and extra support for your child for Lewisham Council.
The South London Healthy Homes programme provides a free winter home, financial and health support package to those most in need.
Lewisham Local have created this helpful leaflet for those who might be worried about money, which will signpost you to useful services available.
Find information about on the Mayor of London’s website on benefits, grants and discounts you can get if you’re in financial difficulty.

Help with Energy Bills and reducing Household costs

SELCE can help you to reduce your energy bills and keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Follow the Energy Trust quick tips and advice for quick and easy ways to save energy, lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
Martin Lewis has information about reducing energy bills on his website.
Help for vulnerable residents to stay warm and healthy
Funding is available for low-income households in properties with low energy efficiency rating. Find out more and check if you are eligible to apply.
Many people on some benefits may be able to get cheaper broadband with what are often called social tariffs. There’s a full list on Money Saving Expert here.
From Tuesday 1 November Lewisham Council will be offering a Warm Welcome in our local libraries across the borough, where people can come together and use the facilities in a warm, welcoming environment. You can see opening times here.
Community groups are offering warm spaces where people can pop in. Please check each listing at Lewisham Local for opening times and services provided.

Support with Food Costs

Local Community Supermarkets offer low cost and healthy groceries, click to find out how to join.
Lewisham Food Bank, if you need help from Lewisham foodbank there are a few simple steps to follow.
OLIO is a free app allowing neighbours to offer perfectly good, unwanted food to each other.
Too Good to Go is an app that lets you rescue unsold food from
shops and restaurants to save it from going to waste.
Enjoy company and conversation with others from your local area over a delicious meal, prepared with care by FoodCycle volunteers. Find out more here
Over 1600 eligible families in Lewisham are missing out on payments to buy vegetables, fruit, legume/lentils/beans and milk. For more info on and how to apply visit the healthy start.

Click on these fact sheets below to download

Local Support Organisations

BLG Mind provides a range of high quality mental health support services for adult residents in the borough of Lewisham. This includes specialised support for people from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee communities, for new mums, and for anyone needing help with benefits.

Visit blgmind.org.uk/for more information.

Citizens Advice Lewisham offers the people of Lewisham, especially the most vulnerable, the advice and support they need on a range of issues.

Visit citizensadvicelewisham for more information.

The Early Years Alliance Children and Family Centres provide 1:1 Family Support, Parenting Courses and Domestic Abuse Recovery Programmes to families facing difficult periods and challenges in their lives.

Visit our Support Page for more information.

For more information please read our blog posts on a number of related topics.

Kids eat free or for reduced prices Easter 2024

Getting out and about during the holidays can be an expensive business but these cafes and restaurants are offering some great deals on kids meals

Could you save money on your prescriptions with an exemption certificate?

Find out if you’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and help with other NHS costs using the NHS eligibility checker. If you

Warm Welcomes in Lewisham 2023

ABOUT THE WARM WELCOMES To support individuals affected by increased living costs in Winter, Lewisham Local are coordinating a network of local establishments to

Enjoy a FREE hot meal on Wednesday and Saturday lunchtimes

FoodCycle Lewisham Wednesdays and FoodCycle Lewisham Saturdays welcomes anyone to attend as a guest and enjoy a FREE hot meal. No need to book. Just

Lewisham Warm Welcomes – 1st December 2023 – 31st March 2024

ABOUT THE WARM WELCOMES To support individuals affected by increased living costs in Winter, Lewisham Local are coordinating a network of local establishments to set

Holiday programme food and fun for children receiving free school meals Winter 2023

Winter 2023 holiday activities and fun Lewisham have teamed up with a range of local organisations to offer a fun-filled programme of free activities for

The Lewisham Bank of Things

WHAT DOES THE BANK OF THINGS DO? Provides Vital Resources for Young People. The Bank of Things is a Young Mayors Project working in partnership

Are you struggling to buy baby formula, milk or fruit and veg?

Applying online If you get Universal Credit, you can apply online if: you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under

Benefits and Housing Advice Drop-in delivered by bench outreach

bench Outreach Housing and Benefit Support If you’re struggling with the housing crisis, the cost-of-living crisis, or just coping with years of austerity, our HOUSING

Could you save money on your NHS prescriptions?

Check what help you could get to pay for NHS costs Although most NHS treatment is free, there is usually a charge for: NHS prescriptions

Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024

You may be able to get up to 5 payments to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits.

Kids eat free or at reduced prices Summer 2023

Stretching the budget over the Summer Holidays can feel like a real chore. But many restaurants are offering reduced or free meals for children this

Common Housing Issues

We often receive enquires to support families with housing issues, as a result we have put together a new Housing Advice section on the website

Universal Credit’s maximum childcare payments will rise nearly 50% – up to £1,630 per month – from 28 June.

Childcare costs have soared over the last few years leaving it unaffordable for many families, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Single Parents Day 2023

March 21st marked Single Parents Day 2023. Gingerbread, the UK Single Parent’s Charity have carried out research to produce an up-to-date picture of what it means

Financial help if your child has a disability

If your child has a long-term health condition or a disability you may be entitled to certain benefits to help you provide the extra things

Help paying for your childcare

Paying for childcare can be one of the most expensive items in your monthly budget. It can also stop many parents going back into the

Help for vulnerable residents to stay warm and healthy

With fuel costs rising it can be difficult to make sure you are getting all the support you need to pay your bills, especially if

Are you getting all the benefits you are entitled to?

With the cost of living rising it can be worrying if you are on a fixed income. Making sure you are getting all the benefits

Budgeting for rent over Christmas from Lewisham Homes

Lewisham Homes are aware Christmas can be a difficult time for some residents and understand the additional pressure the season can put on your

Christmas Give and Take Event – 19th December 5-7pm

Come along to Lewisham’s Christmas ‘Give and Take’ event and help create a sustainable Christmas. Date/Time: 19th December (5-7pm)Location: Wearside Service Centre, Wearside Road, Ladywell, SE13

Keeping warm this winter – Lewisham Warm Welcomes Scheme

What are Warm Welcomes? Community groups are coming together to offer spaces where people can pop in free of charge. All welcomes are YOu currently

Are you struggling to pay your council tax?

Council Tax is an annual fee you pay to your local council. The cost is set by your council and goes towards funding local services.

Lewisham winter holiday programme of food, fun and other activities 2022

This winter, with funding from the Department of Education, Lewisham Council is providing a varied holiday programme, with free activities and lunches for school aged

Could you get cheaper home broadband?

Many people on some benefits may be able to get cheaper broadband with what are often called social tariffs. There’s a full list on Money

Reducing mobile phone bills and free data for those on certain benefits

Having a mobile phone is no longer a luxury. With many families no longer having a landline to keep in contact with friends and family

Quick tips to save energy from the Energy Saving Trust

Follow the Energy Saving Trust quick tips and advice for quick and easy ways to save energy, lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint.

Remember to use your £66 pre-payment meter government help vouchers

PayPoint, which runs energy top-up facilities in some 28,000 shops, says only 53% of the 800,000 vouchers it issued in October have been redeemed so

Low cost food at Community Supermarkets

If you are on a low income or are struggling at the moment community supermarkets and pantries are a great way to make your weekly

Financial help if you have children

As the cost of living crisis begins to effect us all it’s always worth checking if we are receiving all we are entitled to, especially

30 hours ‘free’ childcare: what parents need to know

The government’s 30-hours funded childcare places for working parents of three- and four-year-olds differs from the 15-hours childcare offer. Below we address some of the details and

Help with the cost of living

We’re all concerned about the cost of living rise. Find out what help may be available to you through benefits, grants and other sources of

Applying for free school meals this September

As the cost of living crisis hits all of us and the cost of food continues to rise making sure your child gets a healthy

Lets Stop Food Waste!

Minimising Food Waste is great way to save money and minimise waste. Did you know, one third* of food produced for human consumption is lost

Healthy Start vouchers go digital!

Healthy Start are moving from paper vouchers to the Healthy Start card. The last paper vouchers will be sent out on the week starting the

Help with the cost of living crisis

Millions of people across the UK have have noticed our food, energy and petrol costs rising and talk of further rises can be really worrying.

“My child and I have really enjoyed coming to Little Explorers. It has helped my child to get used to see other babies and have interaction with them, which has been really important for him after the pandemic.”

“It's absolutely fab to be able to have access to all of the Domestic Abuse services in one place and to just click on a link to get to the website.”

“The Children Centre is our favourite place to come, we have been coming here since my child was 6 months old, he is now 4 years old and is still enjoying! Well done staff”

“I have just found the ‘taking care of ourselves’ section, which is massively important for us all, especially compassion fatigue.”

“The help and support that my family support worker gave me was above and beyond, she was always there to listen to me and make me feel like I was good enough and I was being heard.”

“The Outreach Team have such outgoing, friendly and fun personalities and made each Outdoor Learning session a great experience.”

“The Explorers session has helped my child a lot with his communication and his development. It’s really been impactful for him; we are really grateful to have this opportunity to attend the session and meet other parents as well.”

“The sessions help my daughter with speaking English, as well as helping her to listen and follow directions. I am very happy, my baby is very happy, and I feel relief when I come.”

“The Children Centre is very beneficial for my child, she has developed lots of skills e.g., sharing toys and naming colours. Also, the staff are very friendly and helpful.”

Welcome to the Lewisham Children and Family Centre Website

On this page you will find information about support available to help with the cost of living rises, including links to websites, information sheets and blog posts.