Support in Cheshire
A directory of financial support that is available in Cheshire
Help with food
Households with children that are eligible for free school meals can access free holiday clubs, where they will be provided with healthy meals and take part in fun and creative activities. This is being offered via all local authorities and customers should contact their local council to book on to these.
Help with rent
If your benefits don’t cover all your rent, you might be able to get extra money called a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP). Find out more about support below via Cheshire Council's website, here (this is a link to another website.)
Help with school uniforms
Support for school uniforms is different depending on where you live and which school your child goes to.
If you need help, speak to your child’s school. They can tell you:
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What support is available
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How to apply
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If your local council offers help.
Some schools also have second-hand uniform shops or swap schemes.
Find more information in your area:
- For people living in Cheshire East, click here (this is a link to another website and will open in a new tab.)
- Search on the government website, here (this is a link to another website and will open in a new tab.)
Help with white goods
There are grants available for people and families on low income to help to buy white goods, like fridges and washing machines. You can find out more information and if you can access support on the following websites:
Help for people with disabilities and special needs
- Contact - for families with disabled children | Contact
- Birkdale Trust: grants for people with a hearing impairment
- Children today: for specialised equipment and services
- Family Action: for families living with poverty, ill health and social isolation
- Family Fund: for lower-income families with a severely disabled child
- Family Holiday Association: for low-income families who need of a break
- Lifeline 4 kids: essential equipment to improve quality of life
- Meningitis Now: to deal with the impact of meningitis.
- New Life Foundation: for seriously disabled or terminally ill children.
- Smile for Life: access to funding from charities and organisations.
- Turn to us: access to welfare benefits, charitable grants
- The Variety Club: to provide vital daily items
- Fast Grants: access to smaller amounts of funding for good ideas without the red tape
Help for families with young children
Healthy Start Scheme If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you might get help to buy:
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Milk
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Fruit and vegetables
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Baby formula
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Vitamins.
You’ll get a special card with money added every 4 weeks. You can use it in many UK shops. Find out more on the NHS Healthy Starts Website (this is a link to another website and will open in a new tab.)
Emergency Essentials for Children: If your family is going through a tough time, the BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme can help. It provides things like:
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Beds and bedding
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Cookers and fridges
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Clothes and baby equipment.
You need a support worker or organisation to apply for you. Learn more at the Family Fund Service Website, here (this is a link to another website and will open in a new tab.)