Vital financial support will be available for eligible families across Royal Greenwich.

Using money from the UK Government’s Household Support Fund, we will be supporting a number of schemes from July 2023 until March 2024, to ensure our residents stay warm, well and safe.

We are sending targeted payments to groups we know are particularly vulnerable to the ongoing cost of living crisis. These include school holiday payments for families with children on free school meals and those with children under five, care leavers, households with nil recourse to public funds (NRPF), low-income residents with a disability supported by Adult Social Care, and residents in temporary hotel accommodation. 

The funding will also strengthen our existing programmes. This includes Livewell Greenwich, Stay Warm Stay Safe, the Emergency Support Scheme (ESS), our Money Advice service. 

Externally, we are funding a network of voluntary sector led warm and welcoming spaces, alongside Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency’s work to ensure sufficient food provision at local foodbanks and clubs. 

This support will be available right through to March 2024, as we endeavour to support residents most affected by rising costs. 

Free school meals payments

All children currently claiming means-tested free school meals in Royal Greenwich schools will qualify for a payment. Eligibility is confirmed via schools. We will contact you by text message or email to let you know how you will receive the payment.   

Five payments will be made: £60 per child for the summer holiday, £15 per child in October half-term, £30 per child in December, £15 in February half-term, and £30 per child in the Easter school holiday.  

Sign up for free school meals through the Council or contact your school. 

Payments for pre-school children

For pre-school children (under five), eligibility will be confirmed by Greenwich Children’s Centres and early-years childcare providers. We will contact you by text message or email to let you know how you will receive the payment.  

Payments will be made at the same rate and at the same time as free school meal payments.  

If your child is not yet registered at a childcare setting, find out more about our children's centres. 

Other targeted payments

Targeted payments will also be made to other vulnerable households who are supported by our teams. If you are eligible, we will contact you by text or email to let you know how you will receive the payment. 

Two payments of £250 will be issued to Greenwich Care Leavers and households with NRPF, one in summer 2023, and one in the New Year. NRPF households can be defined as residents of the borough whose immigration status prevents them for claiming benefits they would otherwise be entitled to. Eligibility is confirmed via the Care Leavers’ service and NRPF teams respectively. If you are not contacted and think you are eligible, please speak to your Personal Adviser or caseworker. 

One payment of £100 will be issued to low-income households with a disability who are supported by Adult Social Care in autumn 2023. Eligibility is confirmed via Adult Services. If you are not contacted and think you are eligible, please speak to your Social Worker. 

These payments form part of our larger cost of living, Greenwich Supports, which aims to identify any gaps in funding to support those most vulnerable.

We are here to help

Live Well 

Whether it’s about access to food, concerns about the rising cost of living or not knowing how to get the support you need, you can speak to Live Well Greenwich.   

You will be able to speak to someone about the best support you can get to make the most meaningful difference to you.  

Call the Live Well Line on 0800 470 4831 to chat with someone about any of these things that are worrying you, and they will be able to help. 

If you would rather speak to someone face-to-face, we have also invested to put Live Well coaches in more community venues, including the Greenwich foodbank, our Advice Hubs, and some of our funded warm and welcoming spaces.  

See the Live Well website for more. 

Stay Warm Stay Safe 

We are investing in our Stay Warm Stay Safe scheme to provide extra services and support for residents who may be at risk during the cold weather. 

Residents who are over 60, caring for a young or vulnerable person or having problems paying their winter fuel bills can benefit. To access support please call the Live Well line on 0800 470 4831. 

See our Stay Warm page for more.  

Emergency Support Scheme

We set up our Emergency Support Scheme to provide discretionary support to Royal Greenwich residents in difficult times; for example, after a house fire or flood, or if residents are temporarily struggling with essential payments. We have invested additional funding to ensure the scheme can continue to support residents in the face of the current cost of living crisis. All borough residents can apply, and applications are always open, but awards are subject to eligibility criteria.  

There are two types of support available: 

• Community support awards – provision of basic furniture and household items. 
• Emergency support payments – one-off cash payments. 

See our Emergency Support Scheme page for more information and to make an application. If you need support with your application, please call 020 8921 2078. 

Money Advice 

We have invested to strengthen the support offered by our Money Advice Team. These specialist officers work one-on-one with residents to develop plans to maximise income, reduce expenditure and manage debts, then help residents put these plans into action so they can get on top of their finances. 

Support from the Money Advice Team is available by specialist referral only.  

Warm Spaces 

Following the success of our warm spaces scheme last winter, we are continuing to invest in our partnership with local voluntary and community sector organisations to provide a range of warm and welcoming spaces across the borough this winter.  

These spaces are available to walk in for any resident who wants to escape the cold, access support, or just enjoy the company of their local community. Please note opening times and specific provision will vary across spaces.  

See our Greenwich Supports map to find your nearest warm and welcoming space. 

Food 

We are continuing to invest in our partnership with Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency to ensure our borough food banks and food clubs are well-stocked with nutritious, fresh, culturally appropriate food, helping to tackle food insecurity and ensure residents have access to the food they need.  

See our webpage for more information on regular community meals and food clubs.

Other help

Find out where you can get further help on our Greenwich Supports page and the Government’s Cost of Living Hub.