The Cost-of-Living Crisis, sadly, has not eased off and families and individuals across North Ayrshire still need support.
Residents continue to live with financial stress as they try to cope with increasing food costs and rising household bills.
Combatting child poverty and the cost of living is a priority for the Council, and a flyer packed with useful information on the crisis support has been printed for distribution among residents.
The leaflet contains information on foodbanks, community larders and other support services available to residents.Some of you may remember the blue leaflet being circulated last year.
It has been updated by the Customer Service team for 2025 and contains details on how to contact various experts for advice.
If you would like some copies of the leaflet to pass on to your own service users, please email Michelle Emberson, Customer Service Team Leader at memberson@north-ayrshire.gov.uk to arrange collection from Cunninghame House.
Please include the name of your team and the number of copies you would like in the email.
The Council’s dedicated Help with the cost of living page also has information on support, including:
- Crisis and Community Care Grants– support for residents on low income/qualifying benefits who have suffered a disaster or emergency
- Free school meals and clothing grants – means tested for children in low income households
- Council Tax reduction – helps people on a low income pay all, or part, of their Council Tax and
- Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if you claim Housing Benefit or receive housing cost payments through Universal Credit and need financial help because your benefit is less than the full amount of your rent, DHP can help cover this (if you get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit you can claim a DHP to help pay your rent).
Our Help with the cost of living page has a link to a referral form that customers – or Council staff – can fill in for advice and support.
Departments the referral form can go to include: Employability; Housing rent advice and support (NAC tenants only), Homeless advice and support; Health and Wellbeing support and Money Matters.
If you are in crisis and need support, call our Customer Services team on 01294 310000 or speak, in person, to an adviser at one of our Customer Service Centres:
- North Ayrshire Council Offices, Lamlash, Isle of Arran, KA27 8JY
- Customer Service Centre, Bridgegate House, Irvine, KA12 8BD
- Brooksby Medical Resource Centre, 31 Brisbane Road, Largs, KA30 8LH
- Customer Service Centre, Saltcoats Town Hall, Saltcoats, KA21 5HW
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