Cost of Living Support
We will add any helpful information and support available in the local area below.
For information from Suffolk County Council on support available please visit:
Suffolk Local Welfare Assistance Scheme – Suffolk County Council
Suffolk Local Welfare Assistance Scheme (LWAS)
Poverty Proofing Audit February 2023
The academy has taken part in a poverty proofing assessment to help us understand how poverty affects our students, and to explore if there is anything else we can do to help them access learning.
The audit was carried out by Suffolk County Council and Children North East, and a link to a video clip about the programme can be found here.
The audit took place over three days to look at all aspects of the school day, and to speak to staff and students. They also sought parent views, and all parents/carers were sent further a survey request via our ParentMail system.
Lowestoft F.I.S.H are a community group that offer food for the whole family to eat for FREE during school holidays at various venues around Lowestoft.
Please see below for details of the current school holiday provision.
For full, up to date information and to book meals, send them a private message via their Facebook page here including the following information;
- The venue you would like to book (up to three, one per day).
- How many adults and children you are booking for (with the ages of your children to help with portion sizes).
- A contact telephone number, just in case they need to contact you.
Lowestoft FISH will add more information over the summer so please visit their Facebook page for updates.
Breakfast club
Every day between 7.45am and 8.45am in the Dining Hall where students can choose from cereals, fruits, yoghurts, breakfast bars, warm porridge and toast. A full cooked breakfast is also available weekly.
Period poverty
Sanitary products can be provided free of charge from any of the pastoral team or reception.
Lowestoft Food Bank
We are working with Lowestoft Food Bank to be able to signpost and support families to access the service.
Enrichment clubs
Clubs are available every day, details can be found here.
Uniform selection
We have a small supply of second hand school uniform available within the academy. When an item is not available we will signpost to the Lowestoft Uniform Bank (mentioned below).
Winter clothing
The local academy community are donating any unwanted winter clothing, to be able to be utilised by families in need and available during our Christmas Fayre
Rewards shop
Our rewards shop has a selection of academy equipment on offer, which can be purchased with reward points rather than having to purchase externally.
Free School Meals (FSM) Eligibility
Families on low income may be eligible for funding for free school meals. This has to be applied for through Suffolk County Council, details can be found here.
Fit and Fed holiday activities
The academy provides a venue, free of charge, for some holiday activities, which are free for students eligible for free school meals, and can sometimes be subsidised for students not on free school meals.
A number of local sites are offering a “warm room” for the local community during the week.
East Suffolk Council also have Warm Rooms available and more information on these can be found here.
Anglia Care Trust
Anglia Care Trust have produced a brochure on how to reduce everyday living costs here.
BBC Cost of Living Tips
A guide put together by the BBC to support families, with an easy to follow set of questions, which then offers helpful suggestions and solutions. Details can be found here.
Citizens Advice
For getting immediate help with bills or shopping, please contact Citizens Advice. There is also other information on how to access other help such as how to apply for the HealthyStart Scheme, school costs and travel costs.
East Suffolk Council
A variety of information, along with an online cost of living referral form for those needing immediate support with the cost of living, can be found on their community page.
FREEGLE
This website allows customers to find free unwanted items in our local area, and also ask for a required item. Details can be found here and on their Facebook page.
On their website you can sign up for a weekly meal plan, which is delivered to your email. They give a lovely variety of different and tasty recipes, with a selection large enough to suit all tastes. The meal plan even gives you a shopping list, together with supermarket price comparisons.
Government Help for Households
Offers information and advice on energy bills, childcare costs, household costs, transport costs, finding work, discounts and offers. More details can be found here.
Post Office
This website has a lot of information regarding cost of living support on both energy and home finances.
Suffolk County Council
A variety of help is available from Suffolk County Council, including housing and food support. Details can be found on their communities page. Suffolk County Council also has a cost of living support online booklet, details can be found here. If you require a hard copy of this document please contact the academy.
Suffolk Infolink
A variety of information to be able to support, with support with food, fuel, energy, utilities, finance and debt, warm spaces on their family page.
Suffolk Local Welfare Assistance Scheme
Is to support those in the Suffolk community who are experiencing financial hardship. More details can be found here and the eligibilty checker can be found here.
Lowestoft Uniform Bank
This charity gives free school uniforms for families in Lowestoft. They are based at Bloodmoor Hill Community Centre, Dale End, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, NR33 8WA in association with Lowestoft Rising. If you have a request for uniform, they have a Google Form that you can fill in.
Mental health and money
Mental Health & Money Advice offer free, independent advice to help you understand, manage and improve your mental health and money issues.
Period poverty
East Suffolk Council is committed to helping end period poverty and the stigma attached to it, working with existing schemes such as Free PGenerteriod in Waveney and Pride and Period in Suffolk Libraries. More details on schemes and locations can be found on their website.
Broadband
USwitch have put together a resource to show the different deals available on broadband contracts. These are accessible if you are in receivership of benefits.
Energy Bills Support Scheme
As of 29th July 2022, HM Government have announced how the Energy Bills Support Scheme will work. The scheme aims to help ease the affect of rising energy prices with all households receiving a £400 discount on their bills. The BBC have also put together this helpful guide to explain when and how the payments will be made.
HM Government also has information on other help with your bills.
Energy Savings Trust
Visit Enegry Savings Trust for free quick and easy energy savings hacks.
Warm Homes, Healthy People
For residents of Suffolk, with information, advice and support on various ways to allow people to live in homes that cost less to heat, so they can reduce their energy usage and enjoy lower bills. Warm Homes Healthy People » East Suffolk Council
Water bills
Essex and Suffolk Water If you are struggling with water bills and are an Essex & Suffolk Water customer, they have set up a page with helpful information on how you can access support. Other water providers offer a similar help provision.
Anglian Water provide our sewerage service in the local area. They have also set up an Extra Care Support page with details of how they are able to help households stay on top of their bills.
BBC Family £1 Recipe Meal Plan
The BBC has put together a budget friendly meal plan which covers a week’s worth of dinners for four adults, coming in at under £28 in total. All the recipes are flexible too, so you can swap in different ingredients to make the most out of leftovers and supermarket deals, as well as appease picky eaters. Details can be found here
Community Pantry
One of a large number of pantries set up in the UK, Kirkley Pantry provides friendship, food and freedom through Pantry membership. Pantries are all about dignity, choice and hope. Each one operates as a member-led neighbourhood hub, often serving as a springboard to other community initiatives, opportunities and ideas. Further details can be found here. And details of the Kirkley Pantry and be found here.
Feed Your Family for Around £20 a Week
This independent group have created some simple meal plans for around £20 per week. The meal plans are aimed at a family of 4 with different plans available if you are vegan or want to use a slow cooker or air fryer. All the recipes can be scaled up or down and each plan comes with a shopping list.
Food bank
For help with food provision, please contact Lowestoft Food Bank.
FREEGLE
This website allows customers to find free unwanted items in our local area, and also ask for a required item. Details can be found here and on their Facebook page.
On their website you can sign up for a weekly meal plan, which is delivered to your email. They give a lovely variety of different and tasty recipes, with a selection large enough to suit all tastes. The meal plan even gives you a shopping list, together with supermarket price comparisons.
OLIO
OLIO connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away. This could be food nearing its sell-by date in local stores, spare home-grown vegetables, bread from your baker, or the groceries in your fridge when you go away. For your convenience, OLIO can also be used for non-food household items too. Details can be found here.
YMCA
YMCA are providing free hot meals to help with the cost of living crisis. Please see the poster below for more details.
Realise Futures Learning Team
The Realise Futures Team offer courses on many topics such as mental health, confidence and wellbeing, stress management and money management, digital and work skills. You can view their brochure below to find out more.
Realise Futures – Realise Futures is more than a Social Enterprise – it’s about people.
We also have a dedicated page with useful resources and information for parents and carers and their own mental health. Please find this page here.
