Families needing help with the current cost of living crisis may be able to find financial and other types of help from the organisations listed below:
Information about free school meals, remission of music fees and help with the purchase of school uniform can be found on our Financial Assistance page on the main website here.
Working with the Parents’ Society, the school has access to a stock of second-hand uniform that can be supplied at low cost to parents. Please contact school Reception for details.
Hitchin Partnership provides a family support service to schools in Hitchin and the surrounding villages. We work alongside families giving practical support and user friendly parenting strategies. Through funding from schools, the support of local community groups and fundraising we provide practical help in times of hardship and crisis. More information can be found on their website at http://www.hitchinpartnership.org/
Rand’s Educational Foundation supports young people under the age of 25 in Ickleford, Holwell, Pirton and Stondon. They offer a range of financial support through the award of grants to individuals, educational establishments and voluntary organisations. More information here.
Letchworth Civic Trust offers grants to students who have lived in Letchworth for at least two years who are going to university or continuing with further education, and can also help towards the cost of educational activities for families who are struggling, where the head teacher believes the activity would benefit the child. More information here.
Letchworth Foodbank can provide food parcels containing three days' supply of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food, and works on a referral system. If you contact them they will talk through your situation and put you in touch with a relevant local agency, who will supply you with a food voucher where appropriate. Contact them here.
For a small weekly subscription of £4, members of Hitchin Pantry will be able to buy food, including fresh fruit and vegetables and store cupboard favourites, to the value of £15 or more. Membership is open to the community surrounding the pantry address and local families are strongly encouraged to join. More details here.
The Hitchin Food Rescue Hub collects unsold fruit, vegetables, bread and other provisions from supermarkets to save it going to waste and makes it available for free collection at the Half Moon Pub on Thursday mornings between 9.30 and 11am. The food is available to everyone - take two carrier bags along - and if you can make a donation it is appreciated. They have a Facebook page here.
Hitchin Food Provision support families with supermarket vouchers through professional referral only. They offer help to those suffering extreme hardship. If you feel that you might qualify and would like us to consider a referral, please email admin@hitchinboys.co.uk.
The Best Before Cafe in Letchworth rescues food from local supermarkets to share with the local community, with a small charge of £2 for a bag of fruit and vegetables (a bag of bread is free). More details and opening hours on their website here.
The Healthy Hub North Herts has a list of local food providers for those in need, which you can download here:
Hitchin Youth Trust offer grants to young people under the age of 26 who have lived in and around Hitchin and local villages for at least 12 months (not including Letchworth, Baldock, Royston or Stevenage). More information on the areas covered and the type of grants available can be found here.
Hertfordshire County Council have a page on Help to manage the cost of living, which has suggestions on how to save money on energy bills, Council Tax, and links to HMRC, energy company hardship funds and the Money and Pensions Service. There is lots of advice here.
The Citizens Advice Bureau in Letchworth is open Monday to Thursday from 9.30 am to 12 noon. The best way to contact them is via their Contact Us form. Advice is also available on their website at https://www.northhertscab.org.uk/get-advice/
The National Debtline is a charity who can give free and independent advice over the phone or via webchat. Their website has information on dealing with high energy bills and how to work out a budget. More information here.
MoneyHelper is a free service provided by the Money and Pensions Service. MoneyHelper brings together the support and services of three government-backed financial guidance providers: the Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise. Lots of advice is available on their website here.
StepChange debt charity provide the UK’s most comprehensive debt advice service. They offer free, flexible debt advice based on a comprehensive assessment of your situation. They will then provide practical help and support for however long it’s needed. More details here.
Turn2Us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face to face through their partner organisations. More information at https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
The Hertfordshire Families First portal has financial advice and information to help with money and housing concerns here.
