COST OF LIVING

Latest Updates

Updated 15th Nov 2023

  • All benefits will rise 10.1% in April 2023

  • Cost of Living Payments for those on benefits will be £900 in 2023 (expected Sept or Oct2023)

  • Disabilities payment £150 in 2023

  • Social Tariff system in April 2024

  • Minimum Wages going up to £10.42 per hour (over 24 years) in April 2023

  • Energy price cap will last until March 2024

  • Energy price guarantee will go up 20% in April 2023

  • Change in support for paying the interest in mortgage, if you you’ve been out of work for 3 months

  • Social Housing, cap on the rent increase is 7%

  • Tax thresholds have been frozen

  • Reduced the threshold for higher earners for £125,000

Cost of Living and SPW

The National Lottery Community Fund have awarded us a small pot of money to add on to our current projects as a response to the cost of living crisis. Therefore we are:

  • Creating a discount card for single parents, including contacting all nationwide family friendly places to try and get a discount for single parents using the card.

  • Increasing in the amount of mileage and transport costs that we can cover for volunteers and for parents attending the Wellbeing Workshops.

  • Offering snacks and food at all workshops and events that we run from our HQ in Cardiff. Including toast and snacks at our Creative Clubs and any other events aswell.



If you want to hear more about any of this, or would like to get involved then please get in touch.

Official Children in Need Emergency Essentials Referrer 

Single parents facing exceptionally difficult circumstances or who are also in crisis; are living in severe poverty and suffering deprivation as a result

Get in touch to apply.

Useful Websites and Information

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+ Food Banks and Community Fridges

Trussel Trust- Provides details of food banks. in your area of Wales, and uses a voucher referral scheme.

Your Local Pantry- Dusty Forge, Ely Cardiff- £5 for 10 items

Cwtch up Voluntary Foodbank- Cardiff- 1 parcel a month in receipt of benefits

Feed Newport- Food Bank- Newport- Needs a referral via feednewport@gmail.com

Fair Share- Cardiff- Refer via member organisations

RCV UK- Risca and RCT- Tin on the wall scheme

Refurbs Flint- Flinshire- Open to everyone, no referral needed

HWB Cemaes- Ynys Mon- One-off fee of £5, everyone

Crest Cooperative- FoodShare scheme- Llandudno Junction- Open to everyone, no referral needed

Given to Shine- Community Fridge- Wrexham Town Centre- Open to everyone, no referral needed

Caia Park Partnership- Community Fridge- Caia, Wrexham Open to everyone, no referral needed

Cultivate- Community Fridge- Newtown- Open to everyone, no referral needed

Llanrumney Town Hall- Community Fridge- Cardiff- Open to everyone, no referral needed

Pontardulais High Street Hub- Community Fridge- Rhondda- Open to everyone, no referral needed

Rhuthun Town Hall- Community Fridge- Denbighshire- Open to everyone, no referral needed

Manidee Unltd- Community Fridge- Newport- Open to everyone, no referral needed

ACE- Community Shop and Clothes- Ely, Cardiff- Open to everyone, no referral needed

Our Community Fridge- Community Fridge- Caer, Cardiff- Open to everyone, no referral needed

Graig-y-Rhacca Community Fridge- Caerphilly - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Lee Gardens Pool Fridge- Community Fridge- Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Grub Hub- Community Fridge- Tonypandy, RCT - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Caerau Development Trust Fridge Community Fridge- Maesteg - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Crynant Community Fridge- Community Fridge- Crynant, Neath - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Swansea Community Fridge- Swansea - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Stebonheath Community Bridge- Community Fridge- Llanelli - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Kidwelly Community Fridge - Kidwelly - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Tenby Community Fridge - Tenby - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Narbeth Community Fridge - Narbeth- Open to everyone, no referral needed

Haverfordwest Community Fridge- Haverfordwest- Open to everyone, no referral needed

The Fishguard & Goodwick Community Fridge- Fishguard- Open to everyone, no referral needed

Area 43 Community Fridge- 1 Pontycleifion, Cardigan - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Heart of the Community Fridge- Cardigan - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Aber Food Surplus- Aberystwyth - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Ysgol Trefonnen Community Fridge- Powys - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Llanidloes Community Fridge- Llanidloes - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Cultivate Community Fridge - Newtown - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Parkfields Community Fridge - Mold - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Buckley Community Fridge - Buckley, Mold - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Monmouth Community Pantry - Monmouth - Open to everyone, no referral needed

FAM Fridge- Community Fridge - Newport - Open to everyone, no referral needed

Wild Thing- Community Fridge - Cardiff - Open to everyone, no referral needed

+ School Costs

As the cost of living rises, no child should go without. Find out about support you may be entitled to

School Essentials- You could be entitled to support of up to £300

Find out about Universal free school meals for primary school age in Wales

Free Breakfast Club- Your child or children may be entitled to receive free breakfast, if the primary school they go to is maintained by the local authority and if it provides free breakfasts. You need to ask the school for free breakfasts for your child to receive them. Find out about Universal free school meals for primary school age in Wales

+ Fuel

Eligible households can claim a one off £200 cash payment from their local authority

All domestic energy customers in Great Britain will receive a £400 grant to help with the cost of their energy bills through the Energy Bill Support Scheme. This money will not need to be paid back. £650 Cost of Living payment for those on benefits £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment

Household Support Fund- Help households who are not eligible for other kinds of help or need further support.

The Warm Homes Discount- 2.2 million low-income households receive a £140 rebate on their energy bills.

Cold Weather Payments- £25 extra a week for poorer households when the temperature is zero or below.

+ Banks, Credit Cards and Loans

In May 2021, the UK Government introduced a Debt Respite Scheme, usually referred to as Breathing Space, to give people struggling with their debts the time they need to sort out their finances without creditors taking enforcement action or adding charges that increase their debts. To access Breathing Space you will need to talk to a professional debt advisor.

SPW Money Resources for more info on debt, benefits and everything around finances for single parents

+ Housing

Mortgage Repayment Calculator- for those wanting to know about the cost of thier mortgage repayments

Mortgage Mum- Provides easily understandable info on the latest changes in mortgages

Discretionary Housing Payments- This applies to both social and private sector tenants.To get a Discretionary Housing Payment, you will need to either already be receiving the old scheme Housing Benefit or the housing cost contribution element through Universal Credit.

Council Tax discounts and reduction If your household is on a low income, you could receive support towards some, or all of your Council Tax bill.

The Welsh Government’s Discretionary Assistance Fund A fund of last resort intended to support people experiencing extreme hardship. The fund is offering greater flexibility for people impacted by the cost of living crisis. You can apply online to the Discretionary Assistance Fund for an Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP) or by calling free on 0800 859 5924

+ Other Useful Websites Websites and Apps

Vinted- Sell and buy clothes, shoes and accessories

To Good To Go- To make sure good food gets eaten, not wasted.

Olio- to reduce food waste and build food sharing

Make do and mend at a Repair Café

Broadband Social Tariffs, see a list below

Cooking on a Bootstrap- Amazing chesp recipes