Food, energy and safety

Food, energy and fuel

Food and Essential Items

Healthy Start Vouchers

Get help to buy food and milk. If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

Phone: 0300 330 7010
Website: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk
 

Local Welfare Provision 

Bolton Council’s Local Welfare Provision (LWP) scheme helps people in short-term crisis with food and essential items.

Telephone: 01204 332772
Website: https://www.bolton.gov.uk/benefits/help-crisis-emergency

If you are struggling to buy food, you may be able to access support using a Foodbank. There are a number of services that support families in Bolton - 

Recycle for Greater Manchester has top tips to help you waste less food, and help save money.

Energy

Between 1 July and 30 September 2024, annual energy bills for a typical dual-fuel direct debit household in Great Britain are around £1,568.  This is around £122 a year less than the previous price cap.

If you’re struggling with heating costs, you might qualify for government support: 

Find out about Energy efficiency in the home

Pre Payment Meter Debt

Think your pre-payment meter is charging you too much?

The money you put in a gas or electricity pre-payment meter not only pays for fuel you are using but also any debts you have built up in previous months.

Debts that are added to pre-payment meters include:

  • Current and accrued standing charges, which is a daily cost added to the meter even when its not being used i.e. during the summer months.
  • Any types of emergency credit you have used in the past
  • Any other debt you owe

Need help?

Ring your supplier and ask for all your debt to be moved into a repayment plan and ask for the minimum amount to be deducted for each supply, which can be as low as £3.75 a week for each meter. 

What happens next?

Your supplier will explain the process as this can vary, but a signal should be sent to your meter to move the debt to ‘the back of the queue for repayment’. However, you may need to top up your meter a couple of times to activate the plan.

Safety

As household energy bills rise, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) encourages residents to stay safe while cooking and heating their homes. 

There are lots of tips and advice on how to heat your home safely, stay safe in the kitchen and other ways to keep you and your loved ones safe from fire on GMFRS’ website. 

Scam alerts

You may get calls, emails or messages that pretend to be from a government service or energy bill support scheme. If you get a message asking for your personal details (for example, bank details or passwords) this could be a scam!

Report anything you think is suspicious.

Find out more

 

Additional help

Bolton Community Kitchen

Provide food and drinks in a warm and safe environment to Bolton's elderly vulnerable and homeless.  Serving dinner every Wednesday 6pm to 8pm at Bolton Rugby Club, Mortfield Gardens & Avenue Street, Bolton BL1 3AW (Adults only)

Email: boltoncommunitykitchen1@gmail.com
Social: https://www.facebook.com/BoltonCommunityKitchen

Farnworth Baptist Church

Offer the following services: toddler group, Jeremiah welfare and benefits advice, Jeremiah debt advice, wellbeing support, community café and warm space, foodbank and volunteering.

Toddler group and café are available on a drop-in basis, all other services require an appointment which can be made by telephone or email.  Foodbank requires a referral which can be made by housing providers, social services, schools, doctors, etc.

Phone: 01204861671
Email: church@farnworthbaptist.org.uk
Website: https://www.farnworthbaptist.org.uk

Crescent Food Bank

Crescent Food Bank supports Bolton families and children experiencing financial hardship through food parcels and emergency food, alongside practical help including school uniforms, baby essentials, winter clothing, utility support and home starter assistance.  Bolton residents can access support through contacting Crescent directly or via a referral from schools, housing providers, health professionals, social workers and other local organisations, including through their website.

Eligibility varies by service, and residents may be asked to provide relevant identification or evidence of circumstances before support is provided.

Email: info@crescentfoodbank.org.uk
Website: www.crescentfoodbank.org.uk

Blackrod Sports and Community Centre

Provides crisis support for families experiencing financial hardship, including food and supermarket vouchers, essential household items, community meals and practical emergency assistance. They also provide financial resilience support, including budgeting, affordable cooking and digital inclusion activities, alongside referrals to specialist benefits, debt, housing, energy and employment services.

Bolton residents can access the support by contacting Blackrod Sports and Community Centre directly or through a referral from a school, GP, advice service or other partner organisation. They will complete a short, confidential assessment to understand the household’s circumstances and identify the most appropriate support available.

Phone: 07980713289
Email: bsacc.manager@gmail.com
Social: https://www.facebook.com/BlackrodSportsandCommunityCentre

Chris Movement CIC

Provides practical support to families and individuals experiencing financial hardship, including food vouchers, food bank support, financial guidance and signposting to relevant services.

Bolton residents can access our support by contacting Chris Movement CIC directly.

Phone: 01204 859315
Email: info@chrismovementcic.co.uk.
Website: https://chrismovementcic.co.uk

Community Shop Community Store (supporting Great Lever and surrounding areas)

Provides high-quality food and household products from well-known brands at significantly reduced prices, using surplus and donated products to support families experiencing or at risk of food poverty while reducing unnecessary waste.

Community Hub uses Community Store profits to provide training and personal development, helping people build confidence and overcome barriers.
Community Kitchen offers affordable, good-quality meals while creating welcoming spaces for families and communities to connect. Through cook clubs, seasonal activities and its year-round kids-eat-free programme, it helps families develop a positive relationship with food and provides vital support to those in need.

Email: hello@community-shop.co.uk
Website: https://www.companyshop.co.uk/community-shop  
Address: Sunnyside Community Centre, Moisant Street, BL3 3EU