Support if you are experiencing financial hardship
Bury Council may be able to provide immediate support:
- If your household has a low income and you are struggling with your finances. To check eligibility and apply visit www.bury.gov.uk/adviceandbenefits
- If you are experiencing temporary difficulties, a discretionary payment may be available to you. For more information and to apply go to www.bury.gov.uk/discretionarypayments
- We may also be able to support through the provision of vouchers to help with food, fuel and essential winter provisions. Support is flexible dependent on need. To talk through your options in confidence please call 0161 253 5858
- If you are a Six Town Housing tenant you can also talk through support in relation to your circumstances. Please contact 0161 686 8000 or email enquiries@sixtownhousing.org
Bury and Bolton Citizens Advice Bureau
Tailored advice to your individual needs is available, with support available including:
- A benefit check, is some receiving everything they’re entitled to, to maximise income, and explore if there are any grants or discretionary funds open available. For further information on benefits, tax credits and Universal Credit which you maybe entitled to, a free online calculator is available at www.entitledto.co.uk
- Debt advice, including money management and how to deal with priority payments
- Housing options advice
Support is available face-to-face drop in available in Bury on Mondays 10-3 at St John’s House on The Rock – more information is available at : https://www.cabb.org.uk/face-to-face/
There is a freephone Adviceline: 0808 278 7804 available Monday to Friday between 10 am and 4 pm
The Bury Directory
The Bury Directory is an online searchable online resource, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year where you can find all the information and advice you need about Bury.
It is your one stop information point. If you need advice, information or support on a specific service in Bury, or are looking to join a support/community group, the directory can help.
You can access 1000’s of local and national services. There is lots of information and advice on different categories like childcare and families, home, housing, finance, adult care and disability services, staying safe and much more.
To check the Directory out and find what you’re looking for visit www.theburydirectory.co.uk/
Getting Help Helpline and wellbeing support
A confidential helpline is available for all residents who are experiencing difficulties with their mental wellbeing. The Getting Help Helpline is available Monday to Saturday 8am-8pm, offering non-clinical support from experience call handlers. The helpline is 0161 464 3679
Information on broader support on mental wellbeing available in Bury and across Greater Manchester is available here
You can also communicate with trained crisis volunteers (supported by clinical supervisors) by text message, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, simply by texting GMBury to 85258.
Further sources of support:
- National Debt line : free advice available at 0808 808 4000 (Monday – Friday, 9am until 8pm and Saturday 930am until 1pm) or by webchat at: www.nationaldebtline.org
- Money and Pensions Service: 0800 011 3797
- Digital Inclusion – Free 6 week digital skills courses are available through Bury, Radcliffe, Prestwich and Ramsbottom libraries. This includes basic tablet and smartphone skills; email and video messaging; accessing public services; and searching for advice and information such as through the Bury Directory. Phone 0161 253 5772 for more information or to book your free place today. More information on digital skills and training opportunities can be found here.
- Local Energy Advice Partnership – this is a free service that helps advice on keeping warm and reducing energy bills. More information is available at: https://applyforleap.org.uk/ or call freephone 0800 060 7567
- For help with installing energy efficiency measures such as heating and cavity wall and loft insulation there are options available through E.ON Energy Solutions. You do not need to be an E.ON customer to apply. They have grants available subject to eligibility and survey. If you are not eligible for a grant they do offer able to pay deals and will quote you for the work should you wish to proceed. Call 0330 400 1067 or visit here.
- Further information in relation to energy bills:
- https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/budgeting/save-money-on-your-gas-and-bills
- https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/make-sure-your-home-is-energy-efficient/
- https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/
- If you are over 50 years of age, live and are registered with a GP in the Borough and not in receipt of adult care support, you can receive support from the Staying Well Team. A Staying Well Coordinator will contact you to arrange to visit you at home and have a chat with you about your health and wellbeing. If you prefer, we can have these conversations over the telephone instead. For more information visit here or call 0161 253
