Cost of living advice and guidance

Save Cost of living advice and guidance to favourites
Mental Wellbeing tags

North Somerset Council has pulled together a number of helpful cost of living sources of support, our website provides guidance around:

  • Support available from the government and cost of living payments
  • Energy and heating advice
  • Short term financial help
  • Support for homelessness
  • Mental health support
  • Food banks
  • Other useful links

Visit the North Somerset Council website

Mental health and wellbeing

Cost of living pressures can affect our mental health and wellbeing leading to us feeling stressed, anxious or low. In difficult times it’s really important to reach out to others for support.

There are number of local and national organisations who can support you with mental health, find their details at the link below.

Further information on Mental Wellbeing 

Quit smoking and save

Someone who smokes 20 cigarettes a day could save over £3,500 a year by quitting smoking.

We can help you to stop smoking. It’s the single most important thing a smoker can do to improve their health and has a huge financial benefit too. You are 3 times more likely to quit smoking with free support from our Stop Smoking Team than by going it alone.

This service is free to any smoker aged over 16 years living or working in North Somerset.

Further information on Stop Smoking

Find healthy and budget-friendly meals for your family

There are ways to keep food bills down and still make healthy and nutritious meals. The links below will take you to budget-friendly recipes, guidance on how to cook with less energy, and ways to save on food costs.

Tips to save money on your food bill

Food support 

Get help to reduce drinking or substance misuse

When things get hard, some people may turn to alcohol or drugs to help them manage. We provide support to help you to change this and to get back on track.

Further information on Drug and Alcohol support

Physical activity

It’s important to continue looking after yourself. Being physically active, even if that’s just walking, cycling or doing other activities you enjoy, can have a positive impact on your health, helping you to manage stress and improve the quality of your sleep.

Being physically active doesn’t need to cost the earth. There are lots of free options to get you moving, visit our physical activity pages to find hints and tips on getting started.

Further information on Physical Activity

Seek support

When things are feeling difficult, it’s really important to reach out for help.

When it comes to your health and wellbeing, if you’re at all worried make sure you speak to your GP, nurse or other health professional. They are there to support you and it’s important not to bottle things up.

Find your local GP

 

Further reading

Vita Health Group LogoInformationEat Well tagsGet Active tagsLose Weight tagsMental Wellbeing tagsVita Health Group – Healthy Living Healthy MindsVita Health Group provide a lifestyle course for people with mild-moderate symptoms of depression or anxiety. The aim of the…Find out more about 'Vita Health Group – Healthy Living Healthy Minds'Save Vita Health Group – Healthy Living Healthy Minds to favourites
Self Help ToolsDrink Less tagsEat Well tagsGet Active tagsHealthy Early Years tagsHealthy Families tagsLose Weight tagsMental Wellbeing tagsReading Well collections at your local libraryFive Reading Well collections are available in public libraries to help you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing.…Find out more about 'Reading Well collections at your local library'Save Reading Well collections at your local library to favourites
Second Step LogoInformationEat Well tagsLose Weight tagsMental Wellbeing tagsSecond Step – Food and Mood WorkshopThis workshop delivered by Second Step looks at the importance of balanced diet and a regular eating pattern in improving…Find out more about 'Second Step – Food and Mood Workshop'Save Second Step – Food and Mood Workshop to favourites