With rising costs and competing financial priorities, there is support available for those in need.
The council has joined up with Lightning Reach, a financial grants support portal, which features more than 2,500 support schemes including grants from charities.
A range of support is available, including help with energy and utility bills, support for rent, council tax and other household costs, funding for essential home items like furniture and appliances and assistance with food, clothing and daily essentials.
Residents can fill in their profile by answering a questionnaire. Once the profile is complete, they will be able to see the available support they may be eligible for in one place, get updated when more support is added, and apply for multiple sources of support directly through the portal.
To find out more about making a profile, visit the Lightning Reach website.
There are various Warm Spaces throughout Slough where residents can pop in for a chat, cuppa and sometimes an activity.
Every day of the week, there is some food support available, such as receiving a free hot meal, getting tins of food, emergency food parcels or supermarket surplus food.
Organisations offering the support include Slough Outreach, Salvation Army Warm Space, Cippenham Carers Warm Space, Slough Foodbank (by referral), St George's Church, Art Classes Group Warm Space, AJ Cafe Warm Space, Food Bank at Faizan E Madinah, Ujala Foundation Warm Space, Cippenham Royal British Legion Warm Space, Slough Baptist Church Warm Space, Slough Community Support Café, Ledger’s Road Methodist Church Warm Space and Slough Soup Kitchen.
For the full list of what is available each day, visit the food support page on the council’s website.
Eligible residents can also apply for a one-off voucher from the Household Support Fund. This is for energy, food, water bills, essential goods and housing costs, where existing housing support schemes do not meet the needs. Find out more, and apply, on the HSF webpage.
Councillor Ishrat Shah, lead member for equalities, public health and public protection, said: “We know many people are experiencing the cost of living pressures, so we want to highlight some of the support available. It’s also worth people checking they are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to and applying for whatever they can.
“We thank all the local groups, churches and organisations for being a helping hand to many by offering their premises as a Warm Space or by providing food and clothing. It shows the community working together at its best.”
Visit Slough Community Directory for information on more local support.
More information on benefits and support is on the council's website.