Inspiring change together
Many residents across the borough are struggling to afford everything they need to live well. This platform is a safe space for stories, advice and tips that will support and inspire others through the rising cost of living.
On Inspiring change together, you can read about what your community and the Council are doing to support everyone through the cost of living crisis. Your voice is important, so please consider sharing your advice, a service that’s helped you, or an inspiring story to give a helping hand to other people in your community.
What you can do on Inspiring change together:
- Share a story on the 'Your stories' tab
- See our recent news articles on food support, debt advice, mental health, and more in the 'Our stories' section
- Find food banks, Resident Assistance Points, Work Zones and more in your local area using our Map tool
- View useful links and resources to access support for the rising cost of living
- Read the questions and answers to learn more about available support
- Sign up to the Cost of Living Support e-newsletter to get practical advice and information straight to your inbox every month.
Your stories
This is a safe space for stories and blogs. We want to hear about what you’ve been doing to help people, a great affordable recipe you've tried, or the support you've received that could help others. These are the words of our residents and community organisations.
Before sharing your story, please read our guide on 'How to share a story.'
Please remember this is a public space, so you shouldn't share any personal information about yourself or others without their permission.
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Share Free impartial advice to help you take control of your bills, save energy at home and access additional support. on Facebook Share Free impartial advice to help you take control of your bills, save energy at home and access additional support. on Twitter Share Free impartial advice to help you take control of your bills, save energy at home and access additional support. on Linkedin Email Free impartial advice to help you take control of your bills, save energy at home and access additional support. link
Free impartial advice to help you take control of your bills, save energy at home and access additional support.
Green Doctors work with public and private partners to ensure support reaches those who need it most in local communities.Support is available to a wide range of people so if you’re finding it hard to heat your home, worried about how you’re going to manage your energy or water bill, have a health condition affected by the cold then we might be able to help.
Our support includes:
- the installation of small energy saving measures such as draughtproofing and radiator foils
- help with boiler and heating controls
- smart meters / water meters
- fuel and water debt
- registration on suppliers’... Continue reading
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Share Walking Further Together - On Tour on Facebook Share Walking Further Together - On Tour on Twitter Share Walking Further Together - On Tour on Linkedin Email Walking Further Together - On Tour link
Walking Further Together - On Tour
Walking Further Together is an interactive exhibition of the lived experience of poverty, designed to challenge stigma and shape how we respond to the increased cost of living. The exhibition promotes a greater understanding of the struggle against poverty and how co-production can reinforce the ethos of 'Nothing about us without us is for us'.
Residents across the borough will now have the opportunity to drop in and see parts of the exhibition within west Cheshire's libraries. The exhibition on tour will include pieces of art, audio and visual displays. The session aims to be interactive and thought... Continue reading
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Share Green Uniform and Baby Bank (GUBB) on Facebook Share Green Uniform and Baby Bank (GUBB) on Twitter Share Green Uniform and Baby Bank (GUBB) on Linkedin Email Green Uniform and Baby Bank (GUBB) link
Green Uniform and Baby Bank (GUBB)
Hello there!We are the Green Uniform and Baby Bank, but you can call us GUBB. We are a non-profit, volunteer led organisation, based in Winsford, who help people with the living costs associated with their young families. Emma Ball is our Founder and Director, and is supported by co-Directors Vanessa Tobin and Michelle Hawthorne, along with our team of volunteers.
We started life over 5 years ago in a cupboard in a Dinner Lady’s home in Winsford. Our Emma, as a mother to four, realised that when her growing children needed the next size school uniform, there was nowhere... Continue reading
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Share Period Dignity on Facebook Share Period Dignity on Twitter Share Period Dignity on Linkedin Email Period Dignity link
Period Dignity
At Motherwell Cheshire, we’ve always believed that no girl or woman should have to worry about their period or not be able to afford the essential items they need. So, we have recently launched our Period Dignity campaign.
Since the campaign began in 2023, we’ve received a constant stream of requests for items, from sports clubs or local groups wanting supplies.
We provide several different supply options - we have period bags, these in the main go to local sports clubs. The bags include period items, hygiene wipes, hair bobbles, a hairbrush, deodorant etc. We can also provide our grab... Continue reading -
Share OPAL (Older People Active Lives) on Facebook Share OPAL (Older People Active Lives) on Twitter Share OPAL (Older People Active Lives) on Linkedin Email OPAL (Older People Active Lives) link
OPAL (Older People Active Lives)
OPAL Services together provide many and various social connections for no, or at a minimum, cost and are proving to be a big help to older people and carers in the current economic climate.
OPAL offers a whole range of support to older people and their carers living in rural parts of west Cheshire. Our services offer opportunities for people to socialise in settings that are local and accessible to them and are warm and inviting.
We also support older people and carers in accessing the internet safely and thus potentially obtaining the most advantageous deals when making purchases online... Continue reading
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Share Hoole CE Primary School’s Uniform Union and Story Shack on Facebook Share Hoole CE Primary School’s Uniform Union and Story Shack on Twitter Share Hoole CE Primary School’s Uniform Union and Story Shack on Linkedin Email Hoole CE Primary School’s Uniform Union and Story Shack link
Hoole CE Primary School’s Uniform Union and Story Shack
We set up the Uniform Union and Story Shack in September 2023 to make sure that all our pupils had the same access to uniform, and the opportunity to loan educational games and books to enjoy at home with their family.To begin with we purchased a cabin online, which was installed during the summer break by our site manager. This was the only financial outlay by the school as all items of clothing, books and games are donated. Plus, the Uniform Union and Story Shack are run by a dedicated team of parent volunteers.
As well as providing access... Continue reading
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Share Green Doctor - helping residents to stay warm and well, tackling energy bills during the cost of living crisis on Facebook Share Green Doctor - helping residents to stay warm and well, tackling energy bills during the cost of living crisis on Twitter Share Green Doctor - helping residents to stay warm and well, tackling energy bills during the cost of living crisis on Linkedin Email Green Doctor - helping residents to stay warm and well, tackling energy bills during the cost of living crisis link
Green Doctor - helping residents to stay warm and well, tackling energy bills during the cost of living crisis
Green Doctors offer free, impartial advice to help people take control of their bills, save energy in the home and access other services and initiatives available. We work with public and private partners to ensure support reaches those who need it most in local communities.
Our support is available to a wide range of people, many of whom are struggling for the first time so don’t be shy about reaching out for help. In the UK, changes to energy prices and ongoing financial pressures as a result of the cost of living crisis has left many people finding it... Continue reading
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Share KidsBank Chester – offering a helping hand on Facebook Share KidsBank Chester – offering a helping hand on Twitter Share KidsBank Chester – offering a helping hand on Linkedin Email KidsBank Chester – offering a helping hand link
KidsBank Chester – offering a helping hand
Back in 2018, Cathy Pettingale was watching a television interview of a young mother. The young mother talked about being forced to decide whether she should spend her remaining money on food so her children could eat, or heating so her children could keep warm. Overwhelmed with compassion, Cathy was compelled to do something to help families experiencing similar circumstances within her community – that’s when KidsBank Chester was formed, taking the first referral in May 2019.
KidsBank offers support to families with children aged between 0-12 years. Support can be accessed through:
Self-Referral – a family can self-refer... Continue reading
Sign up to the Cost of Living Support e-newsletter
Leaflets - Walking Further Together, Helping Hand to the Support You Need and How We Live Training
Questions & answers
- What support is available in Cheshire West?
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Questions about financial support
- I’m struggling to pay my bills, where can I get help?
- Where can I get support if I have exceptional needs or require emergency funding?
- How do I check if I’m getting the benefits I’m entitled to?
- Do I need to be receiving benefits to apply for the Household Support Fund?
- If I apply for the Household Support Fund, will it affect my benefits?
- Where can I go to get free or affordable food?
- If I’m worried about money, how can I look after my mental health?
- What does ‘lived experience’ mean?
Videos
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This new community café is more than just a café, it's a fabulous place to meet new people and enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat.
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A new, community laundrette is open at the New Images Youth and Community Centre on Nixon Drive, Winsford and is free to use.
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Severn Trent Water has several ‘help to pay’ schemes available to anyone struggling to pay their bill or with additional needs.
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Let’s Talk sites offer residents an opportunity to have a face to face conversation about their health and wellbeing and are also a place where people can go for practical advice and guidance
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Reaching out for help can feel daunting. Hear from people who overcame those fears and who received a positive and welcoming response to their request for support.
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Watch to see the repair café in action and meet the people involved in this great project.