Cost of Living - Help and Support
Everyone is feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis and many people are finding it difficult to make ends meet or struggling in other ways. You are not alone and it is OK in these uncertain times to reach out for help. There is a wide range of support available from Fife public services, partnering organisations as well as voluntary and community groups.
For useful information, advice, help with benefits, energy bills and food, go to: our.fife.scot/gethelp. If you are unable to access information online, you can contact the Community Support Line on 0800 952 0330 from Monday to Friday, 9am -5pm.
Several warm spaces have been set up throughout Fife to offer safe, warm environments for people to spend time, participate in activities and also access support. You can find more information here: ourfife.scot/gethelp/warmspaces.
OnFife have joined with Fife Council by dedicating selected OnFife libraries across Fife as warm spaces, where you’re welcome to read, surf, or just have a blether as well as enjoy board games, one-off events or just relax with a free cuppa. If you need help getting to your local library, please check out the following information: Traveline Scotland & Travel Fife. You will be happy to know that if you are under 22 or over 60 you can travel free by bus.
Housing, Home Energy, Household Bills
For help with housing, home energy and household bills, please visit: our.fife.scot/gethelp/home.
Cosy Kingdom is a free and impartial home energy and utility debt advice service available to anyone living in Fife. For more information on how they can help, call 01592 807930 or text ‘Cosy’ and your name to 88440, email: info@cosykingdom.org.uk or visit: www.cosykingdom.org.uk. You can also find them on Facebook @CosyKingdom.
For common issues and advice on energy and heating your home, visit: www.fife.gov.uk/heatingadvice.
Fife Council Housing Information and Advice - 03451 55 00 33
Homeless Emergency Number (free) - 0800 028 6231
Frontline Fife - 01592 800 430 They provide housing advice and support to people to help them to sustain their home and prevent homelessness. info@frontlinefife.co.uk
For advice on urgent housing matters, contact Shelter Scotland on their free helpline - 0800 800 4444 or visit www.scotland.shelter.org.uk
Fife Housing Register - Visit www.fifehousingregister.org.uk for information on housing options and housing advice.
Disabled Person’s Housing and Self-Directed Support Service Fife - 01592 803 280 www.dphsfife.org.uk
If you are struggling with rising energy costs and need financial and practical advice, please get help at: our.fife.scot/gethelp/bills. If you would like to speak to someone for more assistance, contact the Community Support Line on 0800 952 0330 (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm).
Fife Law Centre is a charity with a team of solicitors providing free legal guidance and possible representation for residents of Fife, in all aspects of housing and related matters. They can be reached at 01592 786 710 or info@fifelawcentre.co.uk
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service offers a free Home Fire Safety Visit to those who need it. They will help you identify possible fire safety hazards and map out a fire escape plan. In addition, they will also fit smoke detectors. For more information on Home Fire Safety and how to arrange a visit, please check the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service website or call 0800 0731 999 to arrange a visit.
Money
EntitledTo Benefits Checker - this free and confidential Benefits Calculator helps you find out what extra money you can claim. Just enter your details and you’ll receive an estimate of the entitlements you could miss. It’s worth checking even if you already receive some benefits - fife.entitledto.co.uk
Welfare Support - 01592 583 659 www.fife.gov.uk/benefits
Scottish Welfare Fund - 0300 555 0265
Tax Credit Helpline - 0345 300 3900
Universal Credit Freephone - 0800 328 5644
National Debtline - 0808 808 4000
Fife Credit Unions - 01592 725 233 www.fifecreditunions.org.uk
The Scottish Welfare Fund provides a safety net for vulnerable people on low incomes by offering community care grants and crisis grants. These awards are not loans, so you do not need to pay it back. The grants are designed to help people who are on a low income, so you can apply even if you do not claim benefits. To find our more, go to: www.fife.gov.uk/welfarefund.
Rogue Traders / Doorstep Callers / Scammers
Be vigilant as there are scammers out there preying on vulnerable people who are worrying about their finances.
Advice Direct Scotland - to report scams or get help and advice, call 0808 164 6000 www.consumeradvice.scot
Fife Trusted Trader - Find reliable and vetted local tradespeople 0333 444 0185 www.trustedtrader.scot/Fife
To learn more about the latest scams and pointers to avoid being scammed, visit Trading Standards Scotland website - www.tsscot.co.uk
Families Support
Home-Start - 01334 477548 Provide support for families by recruiting and training volunteers to work with and support parents with young children. They also run Family Support Groups where children and families are involved in a range of activities together.
Parentline Scotland - 0800 028 2233
Fife Families Information Service - 01592 583146
Contact (Families with disabled children) - 0808 808 3555 contact.org.uk
Fife Gingerbread - 01592 725 210 www.fifegingerbread.org.uk
One Parent Families Scotland Helpline - 0808 801 0323 www.opfs.org.uk
Families Outside Helpline (Families affected by imprisonment in Scotland) 0800 254 0088
Food
Nobody in our community should go hungry and Fife Council wants to ensure that this does not happen. There are amazing community cafés where you can get something to eat in a warm and welcoming environment. You can find a list of their cafes and food providers online: our.fife.scot/gethelp/food.
Community Cafés
Liberty Church - 01383 733970 office@libertychurch.co.uk
Pitreavie Way, Pitreavie Business Park, Dunfermline, KY11 8QS
Opening times: Wednesdays 6pm to 7.15pm and 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month 2pm to 3.30pm
Revive Wellbeing Hub
The Vine 131 Garvock Hill, Dunfermline, KY11 7HZ
Opening times: Wednesday 5pm til 8.30pm
Booking is required - revivewarmandwell.eventbrite.co.uk
Viewfield Baptist Church - dropin@viewfield.org.uk
Viewfield Centre, Dunfermline, KY12 7HZ Opening times: Tuesday 12pm - 3pm
Community Pantry
Food For Your Future Pantry - 07730 809 375
foodforyourfutureenquiries@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/foodforyourfuture
Touch Community Centre, 30 Mercer Pl, Dunfermline, KY11 4UG
Opening times: Call 07730 809 375 on a Wednesday to register between 10am and 1pm. You will be given a time slot to collect your bag from Touch Community Centre on the Thursday.
Baldridgeburn Pantry - 07525 742 175 or 07730 751 885
Baldridgeburn Community Centre, Dunfermline, KY12 9EH
Opening times: Tuesdays 1pm to 3pm
Food Bank
Dunfermline Food Bank
info@dunfermline.foodbank.org.uk
www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/dunfermline/
Liberty Centre, Pitreavie Business Park, Dunfermline, KY11 8QS
Opening times: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4pm to 6pm
Health and Wellbeing
Taking care of your health and wellbeing is very important. If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. As well as a number of national organisations like Mind and SAMH, there are also local ones in Fife that can assist - Access Therapies Fife and Fife Health & Social Care Partnership.
For information on local services, visit NHS Fife - www.nhsfife.org
NHS Inform - 111 www.nhsinform.scot
For GP Out of Hours, call NHS 24 on 111. Accident and Emergency and 999 services should only be used when seriously ill or injured.
Sam’s Café provides support for mental health issues, crisis and suicidal thoughts. You can drop in anytime, for one-to-one support and no referral is needed. For opening times and more information, visit their website: www.samscafe.org.uk.
Breathing Space - 0800 83 85 87 Mon-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri 6pm–Mon 6am https://breathingspace.scot/
Samaritans - 116 123 www.samaritans.org Helpline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, jo@samaritans.org (Email response time 24 hours)
Andy’s Man Club - A peer-to-peer support group for men over 18 to help them through life. All groups meet every Monday at 7pm (except on bank holidays). www.andysmanclub.co.uk
Women’s Wellbeing Club - A peer-to-peer community support group run for women by volunteers. Visit their website www.womenswellbeingclub.co.uk for details.
Source: Staying Safe and Keeping Well Booklet (2022 Edition)
For a comprehensive list of useful contact information for support services in Fife, please visit: www.fife.gov.uk/stayingsafekeepingwell to view the booklet.