Discover lots of tips for reducing heating and energy costs in your home in the Little Book of Warm. It's written by Cosy Homes in Lancashire, but don't worry - the advice is great for houses across the country! It's got advice on a range of topics, from types of insulation you can install to quick fixes to keep costs down.
The Community Fridge Network is coordinated by Hubbub and it connects fridges across the UK. They are places where local people can share food, including surplus from supermarkets, local food businesses, producers, households and gardens. Fridges are run by community groups in shared spaces such as schools, community centres and shops.
If you don’t have enough to live on, you might be able to get help from the government or your local council to afford essentials like bills and food - Citizens Advice Bureau have collated all the grants and benefits available. In addition, the charity Turn2Us can help you find local charity and trust initiatives in your area and provides a wide range of advice and support.
There are community swap initiatives up and down the country helping people to find what they need, whether that's clothes, tools or books. Search for 'community swap near me' online or look on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or Freecycle. You could also search for local lending libraries, where you can borrow something for a short period at low or no cost.
Help people in your community
Amazing things happen when people come together. Well-connected communities, whether that's a neighbourhood or a group of people sharing interests and values, can reduce social isolation and improve resilience to change and hardship. We know that there are millions of people out there who want to help people in their community. Nearly half of the total population of the UK is willing to donate food to those in need, while almost 1 in 4 is willing to regularly cook for someone struggling to feed themselves*. That's a lot of people power!
*36 million people believe the UK would not be able to function without food banks
Our network on the ground
Do you have an idea to support your community, but not quite sure how to get started? We have an amazing team of Community Network Developers, who work in regions all across the UK to help you bring your ideas to life. Whether you need advice, resources or just someone to chat to, they're just at the end of an email or phone call. They can also help you meet other like-minded people near you!
Junior's story
Junior Mtonga was keen to create a sense of community in his local area, which is undergoing a huge amount of redevelopment. Junior and his team first got together with the aim of organising events that would help develop relationships within their community.
Their initial aim was to hook up with other with actively minded locals in order to form a network which could then take positive steps towards creating a better environment for them all to live in. Initially called 'One Love Get Real', Junior's network searched for ways to be able to alleviate the pressures experienced by people at an individual and communal level. The network has now evolved into a Community Interest Company, 1 Love Community. As Junior says: 'Our aim is to establish projects and practices that can easily be replicated by others to help enhance their experience of the social world; especially in cities where there is a noticeable disintegration of community.'
