Links to local help:
Age UK Bedfordshire
Age UK Bedfordshire provides older people free and impartial information, advice and support throughout Bedfordshire on many topics, including finance. The Age UK website and service can help with many topics such as pensions, income tax, debt and savings.
Emergency food for people in crisis. Clicking the title link will provide more information, such as who is entitled to use the food bank. You can also search for your nearest food bank.
Information on payment schemes for vulnerable people, such as an emergency payment for food and utilities or a grant provision for helping vulnerable people to live as much as an independent life as possible.
St Andrews are a registered charity and can give you advice if you are struggling to make ends meet, facing a drop in your income, having worries about debt, or finding it hard to set a budget and manage your money.
The Salvation Army in Dunstable offer debt advice and counselling on Wednesdays by appointment.
Aragon Housing Association- Benefits and money action team
The benefits and money action team is a dedicated team of expert advisors who solely deal with benefits and debt.
MoneyMatters is a well established mutual society in Luton offering excellent value loans and savings. Their services cover Central Bedfordshire.
Bedford Credit Union is a financial co-operative owned and controlled by its members. They offer savings and loans. They are local, ethical and know what their members want.
The council understands that many homes can be costly to keep warm. They offer free independent advice on saving energy, grant assistance for those most vulnerable and cavity and loft insulation assistance.
Links to useful websites:
The Debt Advice foundation have a free confidential helpline for those in debt (0800 043 40 50) as well as self-help tools such as a debt analyser, budget planner and many more.
A government website with relevant pages on money and tax, benefits and business and self employed.
A self-help website by Citizens Advice, including sections on help with debt, mortgage, banking, borrowing money and many more. They also have a tax page that may be relevant and information on loan sharks.
A free and impartial government service that helps you understand your new pension options.
The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) is here to give people professional, independent and impartial help with their pensions – for free. Their helpline – 0300 123 1047 – is open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
The Money Charity believes that being on top of your money means you are more in control of your life, your finances and your debts, reducing stress and hardship. They have sections on everyday money, financial products, debt, students, resources and more.
Free advice on debt, money and loans.
National Debtline is a free, confidential debt advice telephone service. They also offer advice tools such as “money steps” which allows you 24/7 access to online debt advice and lets you complete a budget that gives you a personalised action plan to get back on track.
If you are self-employed and would like free advice on debt and cash flow issues the link will take you where you need. The site includes a debt planning tool to help self-employed people. Using the website will help you take four important steps to deal with your debts. Following all four steps will take some time, but it will help you deal with your debts. So don’t give up.
Payplan give free debt advice and are often a service referred to by the Citizens Advice and the Police Federation. Their phone number is 0800 280 2816 or you can talk to an advisor on a live chat on their website.
The pensions regulator offers information about workplace pensions and automatic enrollment – Tel 0845 600 0707
Money advice service provides information and advice about your money, including mortgages, pensions, insurance and other financial products. They also offer tools and calculators to help you keep track and plan ahead and can give support in person, over the phone or online.
