Support is available if you are struggling financially or emotionally due to the rising cost of living.
You might be finding it hard to keep up with energy payments or worried you won't be able to afford the essentials.
To help make it easier to find the help and advice that is right for you, we’ve listed support that is available by topic.
Energy – Help with fuel costs
More information is available, on our energy grants page.
Energy Saving Tips
- Only fill the kettle for what you need, overfilling the kettle wastes a large amount of energy – an estimated 70 million litres of water are unnecessarily boiled each day.
- Wash your clothes at 30°C instead of 60°C – this uses 57% less electricity.
- Putting lids on pans while cooking uses up to 90% less energy, the food cooks quicker, and less moisture is released into the kitchen. If you have a gas cooker, keep the tip of the gas flame under the pan. The heat is in the tip not the side of the flame.
- Don't put furniture or curtains in front of radiators. They will absorb the heat and stop it warming the room.
- Make use of your tin foil – putting kitchen foil behind radiators reflects more heat back into a room. Just mount some foil on cardboard (shiny side outwards) and you're good to go.
For more tips, please see guidance on domestic energy saving.
Money – Managing your money and debt
Food support – Help with food costs
- Free school meals – check if your child can get free school meals and how to apply.
- Our Falkirk map – find the location of useful local support services in Falkirk including food provision, free Wi-Fi, period products and money advice and support services.
- Food Activity Grants – funds up to £400 are available for community groups and organisations interested in setting up food activities.
- Let's Get Cooking – low cost, easy recipes.
Wellbeing – Looking after your health and wellbeing
- Go card – eligible residents can sign up for our Go Card and access concessions across lots of activities and facilities, from gym memberships, cinema tickets, and FREE swimming.
- Libraries – find your nearest library where you can sit, work and relax.
- Domestic abuse – support available to those experiencing domestic abuse.
- Community groups and services – a directory of groups and services available across the Falkirk area by category.
- Community warm spaces – a map of safe, warm, and welcoming spaces within the local community.
- Gender-Based Violence – information on services and what to do if you are experiencing gender-based violence.
- Falkirk Community Mental Health and Wellbeing – mental health information and services for young people in Falkirk aged 5 to 24 years old (26 if care-experienced).
Family
- Early learning and childcare – how to access up to 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare each year.
- School uniforms and meals – support to help with your child's school clothing and shoes and find out if your child can get free school meals.
- Education maintenance allowance – if you are 16 to 19 years old and want to continue learning, find out if you are eligible for financial support.
- Free School Meal Holiday Payments – payment of £2.50 per day for all young people eligible for free school meals during the school holidays.
- Best Start Foods - payments that help towards the costs of being pregnant or looking after a child. Best Start Foods is a prepaid card that can be used in shops or online to buy healthy foods like milk or fruit.
Where to go for help
The Support for People service can provide advice and support to those living on a low income. Officers are available to speak to you Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm:
Visit our Advice and Support Hubs for more information on support available.
Benefits support
You can find out what benefits support you may be entitled to by using our benefits calculator, or get in touch with our Welfare Benefits team.
Worried about debt
If you're worried about debt or are struggling to manage your money, contact our Debt Advice Team for support.
Financial emergency
If you are in a financial emergency, contact the Scottish Welfare Fund by completing an application form, or call:
Further support
For more information on the advice and support available, visit the Scottish Government's Cost of Living Support page.
Complete the UK Government's Benefits and Financial Support checker to make sure you are getting everything you are entitled to.
Safety
Scammers are targeting people struggling with their energy bills. Energy Advice offer free and practical advice on how to stay safe.