The cost of living crisis is still putting increasing pressures on many residents and families, but remember help and support is available.
You can call the council’s Cost of Living Helpline on 0151 443 3300, Monday to Friday from 9am until 4.45pm.
There’s also lots of help and support available online and through other agencies.
Benefits
It’s important to make sure that you get all the help that you’re entitled to. Citizens Advice can give you information on benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. There is also information about council tax and housing costs, national insurance, payment of benefits and problems with benefits. Find out more at www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call 0808 278 7839.
Help with food
There’s lots of community groups across the borough offering a variety of food options – find out more here. You can also call Knowsley Foodbank on 0151 673 1250.
Help with heating
The council’s Emergency Support Scheme has been extended to offer support to all residents who are struggling to top up their prepayment meter, regardless of benefit status. Applications can be made online or if this isn’t possible, by calling the council’s Contact Centre on 0151 443 3200 where an advisor will complete the online application on your behalf.
People with credit meters may build large debts with their energy supplier if they are unable to keep up with payments. To support these residents, the council is working with Citizens Advice Knowsley to provide support with their gas or electricity supplier. To find out more, email Citizens Advice Knowsley on advice@citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk or call 0808 278 7839.
Housing support
Knowsley Housing Solutions Service offers a free and confidential service. The specially trained team can help with all sorts of housing support related problems. Together you can look at your situation and decide on the best way to help you tackle your problems. Knowsley Housing Solutions team can be contacted on 0151 443 2333.
Employment and training support
Whether you’re out of work looking for employment, in employment and looking to move jobs or would like to learn new skills and try something new, we can help.
The Knowsley Works team can support you will employment and training needs including helping you with job searches, job applications, developing your CV and preparing you for interview.
They can also advise on training options to help you get to where you want to be.
To find out more about employment support as well as training opportunities available, call the Knowsley Works team on 0151 443 5010 or email employment.team@knowsley.gov.uk
In addition, Knowsley Family And Community Education (FACE) team offers a range of training courses across the Borough – many are completely free of charge to attend including drop-in digital sessions and online courses with many more courses being free to eligible residents.
You can find out more by visiting www.knowsleyface.co.uk or call 0151 443 5386 or 0151 443 5385.