Age UK Hillingdon, Harrow and Brent
Help for older people (60+) and people with dementia
Website: www.ageuk.org.uk/hillingdonharrowandbrent
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 8861 7980

HAD (Harrow Association of Disabled People)
Help for people with any disability
Website: www.had.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 8861 9920

Harrow Carers
Help for carers
Website: www.harrowcarers.org
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 8868 5224

Harrow Council- Carer Support
If you are providing unpaid care and support to a vulnerable person living in the Harrow
Community, we want to ensure that you are aware of what support may be available for you.
Contact the Carer Lead on 07522715765 or at [email protected]
https://www.harrow.gov.uk/adult-social-care/carer-support

Community Connex (Harrow Mencap)
Help for people with learning disabilities and/or autism and their carers
Website: www.communityconnex.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 8423 7382

Regional and National Services

Debt Free London
Debt Free London (formerly known as Capitalise – the London Debt Advice Partnership) is a network of 26 advice centres who provide free face-to-face debt advice and assistance. This service covers the whole of Greater London.
Telephone: 0800 808 5700
Website: https://www.debtfree.london/

Money Advice Service
Money Advice Service is an independent service that provides free and fair money advice online, on web chat, in printed guides, face to face, or over the phone.
Telephone: 0800 138 7777.
Website: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/

StepChange
StepChange is a charity that offers free debt and money managing advice, including personal plans.
Telephone: 0800 138 1111
Website: http://www.stepchange.org/

National Debtline
National Debtline offers free confidential and independent debt advice.
Telephone: 0808 808 4000
Website: http://www.nationaldebtline.org

Pensions Advisory Service
Pensions Advisory Service is an independent non-profit organisation that provides free information, advice, and guidance on the whole spectrum of pensions covering State, company, personal and stakeholder schemes.
Website: https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/

Mary Ward Legal Centre
Provides free independent advice to people who live and work in London to help them access their legal rights and entitlements; the main areas of law they help with are debt, housing, and welfare benefits.
Website: https://www.marywardlegal.org.uk/

Gingerbread
Free advice and practical support for single parents.
Website: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
Telephone: 0808 802 0925

Benefits

Benefits entitlement
Check your entitlement to welfare benefits including Universal Credit and Council Tax
Support: https://harrow.entitledto.co.uk/home/start

Turn 2 Us
Check your benefit entitlement, search for grants, support with energy bills, and other financial advice and support.
Website: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/

Harrow Jobcentre
Harrow Jobcentre is located at: King’s House, Clarendon Rd, Harrow, HA1 1YJ
Telephone: 0800 169 0190
Textphone: 0800 169 0314
An additional job centre opened on 25 March 2022 at Spencer House, 29 Grove Hill Road,
Harrow, HA1 3BN.

Universal Credit
Apply for UC here: Apply for Universal Credit – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Sign into your UC account here: Sign in to your Universal Credit account – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Universal Credit helpline
Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344

Council Tax Support
Council Tax Support is a reduction in your council tax if you are on a low income or unemployed. To find out if you are eligible and to apply see Council Tax Support.

Financial Hardship

Breathing Space moratorium
This prevents creditors in most circumstances contacting the client for a period while they receive debt advice and while they recover from a mental health crisis.
For further guidance and who to contact see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/debt-respite-scheme-breathing-space-guidance or https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/if-you-cant-pay-your-bills-because-of-coronavirus/

Discretionary Housing Payments
Discretionary Housing Payments provide normally short term help for people who receive assistance with their housing costs either through Universal Credit or Housing Benefit and are struggling to make up the difference between their benefit and rent. It cannot help with service charges.
More information is available on the Council’s website: Discretionary Housing Payments – Harrow Council

Hardship Payments
Hardship payments are available to people on Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), or Universal Credit (UC), whose benefits have been stopped and who need money for essentials such as food or utilities. They are also available for people who are vulnerable or who look after people who are at risk.
You should enquire about hardship payments at your local Jobcentre Plus or by calling the Department of Work and Pensions on 0345 608 8545 to find out more.

Hardship Fund Scheme
The hardship fund scheme is a discretionary service which supports qualifying residents in extreme emergency situations. It provides awards of between £10 and £100 so long as this Harrow Homelessness Reduction Board Operational Subgroup June 2022 need cannot be met elsewhere. This service is only for short term support and where there is a risk to the safety and/or health of the household.
Website: https://www.harrow.gov.uk/benefits/hardship-fund-scheme

Council Tax Protection Fund
Website: For residents experiencing exceptional financial hardship – Council Tax Protection Fund (effective from 1st April 2020) – Harrow Council

Food Help

Free School Meals
You can apply for free school meals if your child attends a Harrow school, is aged between 5 and 18 years, and you get certain benefits.
Website: Apply for free school meals – Harrow Council

School Holiday Food Project
Families who qualify for free school meals in term time can access food vouchers during the school holidays. Contact your school for more details.

Harrow Activities and Food (HAF) Programme
Holiday programme for children in reception up to age 16.
Website: H.A.F (youngharrowfoundation.org)

Help Harrow
Food, support, and advice service.
Website: https://helpharrow.org/

London’s Community Kitchen
You can visit the London Community Kitchen market every Friday 3pm to 6pm to access
surplus food for free at The Kind Cafe, The Bridge, Christchurch Ave, Harrow, HA3 5BD
(next to Harrow Leisure Centre).
Website: https://www.londonscommunitykitchen.com
Email: [email protected]

Harrow Food Bank
https://harrow.foodbank.org.uk/
The food bank works using a voucher referral system. You will need a voucher issued by a local agency to access food at the food bank, such as Citizens Advice Harrow or your Health Visitor. There is a limit on the number of times you can be given a voucher.

You can exchange the voucher for a food parcel at:

Holy Trinity Church Wealdstone, 1a Headstone Drive, Wealdstone, Harrow, HA1 5QX
Tuesday 13:00 – 15:00, Friday 13:00 – 15:00

Rayners Lane Baptist Church, 139 Imperial Drive, North Harrow, HA2 7HW
Saturday 10:00 – 12:00

Kenton Methodist Church, Woodgrange Avenue, Kenton, HA3 0XF
Wednesday 13:00 – 15:00

South Harrow Baptist Church, 270 Northolt Road, Middlesex, HA2 8EB
Monday 13:30 – 15:30

Warehouse to make donations:
Unit H2, Phoenix Business Centre, Harrow, HA1 2SP
020 8416 7344
Monday 10:00 – 15:00, Tuesday 10:00 – 15:00, Wednesday 10:00 – 15:00, Friday 10:00 – 15:00

Harrow Foodbank Delivery Service (delivery service to extremely vulnerable people) – food parcel delivery slot. Call 07521 651283 OR 07521 650265 for information about our delivery service requirements.
Thu 12:00 – 14:00

Romanian Food Hub
The Romanian Food Hub provides families and vulnerable adults weekly access to non-perishable food and links the Hub users not only to core services offered by local authorities but also to services/ opportunities offered by the 15 organisations collaborating through the
Romanian and Eastern European Network.
Website: Projects – Romanian Culture and Charity Together (rcct.uk)

Breaking Bead Trust
Support for the local community, including food help.
Website: Breaking Bread Trust – A charity based in NW London working with organisations, businesses, charities and individuals to help the most vulnerable in our society

Helping Hands
Help and support for vulnerable and elderly residents, including food help.
Website: Helping Hands – Harrow Central Mosque (harrowmosque.org.uk)

My Yard
Supporting people facing food poverty to have access to a healthy diet and enjoy life. Focus on Grange Farm Estate in South Harrow, with other projects in other areas.
Website: My Yard – Sharing Food, Creativity, Inspiration and Compassion

Soul Kitchen
Collect a free pre-packed meal every Sunday from 12noon to 2pm at 39 Gloucester Road, Harrow, HA1 4PR. All faiths and backgrounds are welcome.
Website: www.soulkitchen.co.uk

Pregnancy and families with children

Healthy Start Vouchers
The Healthy Start provides eligible families with free vouchers every week to spend on food and milk. The vouchers are now digital and on a Healthy Start card. They can be used to buy certain types of milk, infant formula, fruits, and vegetables. You can also get free vitamins. Ask your midwife or health visitor where to collect your free vitamins. You may qualify if you are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under the age of 4 and you are on benefits (or if you are pregnant and under 18).
Website: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

Wealdstone Baby Bank
Wealdstone Baby Bank can provide baby clothes (0-24months) and items of baby equipment (nappies, toys, books, blankets, and other small items). Larger items are stored off-site but can be made available.
Friday mornings 10am to 12noon
Address: Wealdstone Methodist Church, Locket Road, Wealdstone, Harrow, HA3 7ND
Website: http://wmclr.org.uk/wealdstone-babybank/
Email: [email protected]

Harrow’s Early Support Children’s Centres
Harrow’s Early Support Children’s Centres run a range of free activities and services, from pregnancy to 9 years old. A timetable is available.
There are 5 sites in the Cedars Hub: Cedars (HA3), Stanmore Park (HA7), The Pinner Centre (HA5), Whitefriars (HA3) and Chandos (HA8).
There are 4 sites in the Hillview Hub: Hillview (HA2), Kenmore Park (HA3), Elmgrove (HA3) and Gange (HA3).
Website: Children’s hubs – Harrow Council

BBC Children in Need- Emergency Essentials
The Emergency Essentials programme supports individual children and young people living with severe poverty, a lack of the basic facilities which most of us take for granted and additional pressures such as domestic violence, disability, or poor health in the family. The programme provides items that meet children’s most basic needs such as a bed to sleep in, a cooker to give them a hot meal, clothing (in a crisis) and other items and services that are critical to children’s wellbeing.
Website: Emergency Essentials – BBC Children in Need

Home Start Barnet, Brent, Enfield and Harrow
Home Start offers emotional and practical support.
Website: https://homestartbarnet.org/
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0208 371 0674

CNWL Health Visiting Team
The Health Visiting Service is a specialist team that provides advice, support, and intervention to families with children in the first years of life.
Website: Harrow Health Visiting Service :: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (cnwl.nhs.uk)
Address: Milman’s, Grove Avenue, Pinner, HA5 5PF
Telephone: 020 3317 2555
Email: [email protected]

Young Harrow Foundation
Young Harrow Foundation is a membership organisation that supports over 200 voluntary organisations delivering services and activities for children and young people in Harrow.
Website: Home (youngharrowfoundation.org)

Harrow Activities and Food (HAF) Programme
Holiday programme for children in reception up to age 16.
Website: H.A.F (youngharrowfoundation.org)

Harrow’s Local Offer
Harrow’s Local Offer provides information about services for children and young people 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Website: Harrow Council Local Offer (harrowlocaloffer.co.uk)

Low Cost Furniture and Electricals

Trinity
Trinity Furniture stores provide low cost furniture and electricals.
Website: https://www.wearetrinity.org.uk/shops/

Charity Shops
Some charity shops in Harrow sell low cost furniture and electricals.

St Luke’s Hospice
Sells furniture in its Kenton shop and small furniture in its North Harrow shop. Electrical items are sold at its Harrow Weald shop.
Website: https://www.stlukes-hospice.org/shops/specialist-shops

British Heart Foundation- Harrow Home Store
Range of quality preloved furniture, electricals and homewares from sofas, tables, beds and wardrobes to TVs and home appliances.
Address: 57, St Anne’s Road, Harrow, London, England, HA1 1JU
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0203 3940820

Utility Bills

Council Tax Energy Rebate
The council tax rebate will provide a payment of £150 to households living in council tax bands A – D. Payments will be made from April 2022 and will not need to be paid back. Additional households may also receive a council tax rebate depending on their circumstances. See Council Tax energy rebate – Harrow Council

Energy Bills Support Scheme
Through the Scheme, domestic electricity customers in Great Britain will receive a £400 grant which will appear as a credit from energy suppliers from October 2022 onwards. This will not need to be repaid.

Winter Fuel Payment
If you were born on or before 26th September 1955 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills. The tax-free annual benefit is normally paid from November, but most payments are made by Christmas. The Cold weather payment is aimed at residents who are long-term ill, disabled or of state pension age. To be eligible for the Cold weather payment you must be receiving Pension Credit, Income Support, Income Support based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income support based Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit. Any money you get towards your heating bill will not affect any other benefits. You should receive the Cold weather payment automatically if you receive one of the eligible benefits. See Winter Fuel Payment – Harrow Council

Debt on meter
Where there is debt on a meter and you are not liable because you did not use the gas or electricity, you should take a meter reading on the day you move in and contact the utility company. You may be asked to provide a copy of your tenancy agreement or a document that shows the date you moved in.

If you are liable for the debt because it arose at your former property and you cannot afford to clear the debt you should seek advice on any grants are available, options for reducing the rate or recovery or help with drawing up a repayment arrangement.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-yourbills/struggling-to-pay-your-energy-bills/

Fuel Poverty/Climate Change

Green Doctors
Expert energy advisors who provide advice and support for Londoners; helping you stay warm and save money on your home energy bills.
Website: https://london.greendoctors.org.uk/

Green Homes Grant
Seven London boroughs have joined together to carry out smart energy efficiency retrofits on up to 700 homes across the participating boroughs.
Those living in the coldest and least efficient properties may be eligible for up to £10,000 of grant funding. This is to cover the installation of efficiency measures, such as low carbon heating systems, insulation, and smart heating controls.
Save on your energy bill – Green Homes Grant – local authority scheme – Harrow Council

SHINE
The Seasonal Health Intervention Network (SHINE) is a fuel poverty referral network and free energy advice service for Londoners. SHINE London offers a dedicated helpline and affordable warmth interventions to ensure households get the help they need to reduce utility bills, tackle energy debt, and ultimately stay well and warm.
Website: Home (shine-london.org.uk)

Warmer Homes
The Mayor of London’s Warmer Homes programme provides free heating, insulation and ventilation improvements for low income Londoners who own their own homes or rent privately.
https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/housing-and-land/improving-quality/warmer-homes

Centre for Sustainable Energy
Independent national charity that shares its knowledge and experience to help people change the way they think and act on energy.
Website: Welcome | Centre for Sustainable Energy (cse.org.uk)

OFGEM
Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator and works to protect energy consumers, especially vulnerable people, by ensuring they are treated fairly and benefit from a cleaner, greener environment.
Website: Getting help if you can’t afford your energy bills | Ofgem

Grants to improve energy efficiency
Government schemes can help you make your home more energy efficient for free. To check if you are eligible visit the gov.uk energy grants calculator here.

Water Bills

Affinity Water
The low income, fixed tariff (LIFT) is available to customers who are earning less than £16,
480 a year, or who are currently claiming benefits, such as Universal Credit or Job Seeker’s Allowance. If you are eligible, you’ll receive a fixed-price bill each year for your clean water. In 2022/23 your clean water bill will be capped at £107.20. The LIFT tariff is applied to your clean water bill and calculated from the date your application is received and cannot be backdated. If your current clean water bill is lower than £107.20, we will keep you on your current tariff, so that you don’t pay more. To help keep your payments simple and affordable, you can also make smaller, monthly payments throughout the year. Website: https://www.affinitywater.co.uk/billing/lift

Sewerage charges
You may be eligible for a discount on your sewerage charges, provided by Thames Water,
Anglian Water or Southern Water. Thames Water’s scheme is called WaterHelp.
Website: Help with sewerage charges – Affinity Water

Digital Inclusion

Universal Credit claimants may qualify for heavily discounted broadband deals from several broadband providers, called social broadband tariffs.
Website: Cheaper broadband and phone packages – Ofcom

Credit Unions

Credit unions are not for profit organisations that offer services such as saving accounts and low-cost loans to its members. They are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Hillingdon Credit Union
Website: https://www.hillingdoncu.co.uk
Telephone: 01895 250958

M For Money
Website: http://www.m4mcu.org
Telephone: 020 8756 3866

Learning and Employment

Learn Harrow
Learn Harrow provides a wide choice of learning opportunities for all ages and abilities across a range of courses in partnership with its providers, including ESOL.
Website: https://www.learnharrow.ac.uk/

Xcite
Job brokerage for Harrow residents, help with applications, interview practice, career advice and training
Website: https://www.harrow.gov.uk/jobs/careers-advice-training

Shaw Trust
The JETS Programme is designed to help with the practical skills to relaunch your career. The programme offers up to 6 months of support delivered online. If you are on UC/JSA (for 13 weeks or more) you are likely to be eligible for JETS.
Website: JETS – Shaw Trust

Ingeus – Restart
Universal Credit claimants can Ask your Jobcentre Plus Work Coach about the Restart Scheme. 12 months support to find work.

IPS WORKS
IPS Works is an employment support project for people with common mental health issue form BME communities in North and West London.
Support Offered: Developing new skills, finding suitable employment, building resilience, and learning to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression.
Eligibility Criteria: 25+, BME (Black and Minority Ethnic), Living in Harrow, Unemployed for 12+ months, Presenting with common mental health issues.
Email: [email protected]

Support Services

Freephone National 24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline
Telephone: 0808 2000 247

Hestia IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisors) Service
This service offers support to both men and women (16+) who are currently experiencing Domestic Abuse. Support is tailored to individual needs and is focused on reducing the risk and minimising the harm of the trauma of Domestic Abuse.
Telephone: 02089078148 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Email: [email protected]

Hestia Complex Needs Service
For Harrow residents with domestic abuse support needs, housing-related needs, and other support needs such as mental health or substance misuse.
Email: [email protected]

EACH Counselling & Support Housing-Relating Floating Support
For Harrow residents with generic, substance misuse and offending support needs.
Telephone: 02084275188
Email: [email protected]

Rethink Floating Support
For Harrow residents with mental health support needs and for older people.
Email: [email protected]