Budgeting can be challenging for a lot of people.
Balancing what you earn with paying your rent, bills, buying food and looking after your health and wellbeing can be tricky at times. If you are struggling to make ends meet then the following services may be able to assist.
Financial Advice
The following services can work with you to help you budget your money more effectively, or assist you with a plan for paying off debts.
Community Savings Jersey
Community Savings is not a bank. It is a charity which aims to support those in the community who are financially or socially disadvantaged.
Community Savings operates not unlike a credit union but has developed into what is believed to be a unique operation. They provide basic account facilities and a pre-paid debit card but also offer support through their budgeting and mentoring services. In certain circumstances they provide emergency funding loans at low rates of interest or even grants. Community Savings also deliver a school education programme and are part of the Prison Rehabilitation service.
Visit their website by clicking here or find out more by watching their YouTube clip about their services:
Jersey Citizen's Advice
Jersey Citizen's Advice provide independent, confidential and impartial advice that Islanders need for the problems they face. This advice covers a wide range of topics including Money and Debt, Housing, Family and Relationships and Legal matters.
If you would like assistance understanding different benefits, planning a budget or managing debts then you can visit their website here or call into their offices at:
St Paul's Centre, New Street, St Helier, JE2 3WP
Christians Against Poverty Jersey
The CAP Money Course is a free course that will teach you budgeting skills and a simple, cash-based system that works. In just a few weeks, you will get to grips with your finances so you can budget, save and prevent debt.
Whether you feel pretty organised or whether it’s like a lucky dip every time you try to withdraw cash from your account, the CAP Money Course will help you take complete control of your finances.
CAP aim to provide an unbiased, non-judgemental, friendly and service. They are there to help people of all faiths and none.
To find out more about CAP's Money Course, or their Life Skills programme, click here or check out their Facebook page for details of upcoming courses.
Food and Household Items Assistance
If you are unable to afford basic food or household provisions then one of the following charities may be able to assist you. To find out more from their websites, click on their charity name and you will be redirected to their web page.
Grace Trust
As well as a drop-in centre for people who need someone to talk to or just want to enjoy a bit of company, the Grace Trust also offer people who are struggling the opportunity to join them for a 2 course Saturday lunch.
They provide a food bank and grocery delivery service, supplying basic foodstuffs, soup, beans, pasta etc. and where possible, cleaning and toiletry products to those most in need.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army Cafe is located in Minden Place and are open to the public on weekdays. They offer free soup to people who are unable to afford food.
They assist with redistributing clothing, blankets and duvets from their charity shop to people in need.
For those in financial difficulty moving into a new home, The Salvation Army can assist with Starter Kits. These include useful items such as an iron, kettle, toaster, ironing board etc. There is an application form to complete to determine eligibility.
Brightly
Brightly is a small, independent Jersey charity that provides support to children and young people living in care, care experienced, or who are experiencing adversity.
Brightly awards grants to children and young people from birth to 25 years who are being looked after in States care or are care experienced, as well as others who are suffering adversity and are in need. This includes grants for things such as household items, driving lessons, education and health-related appointment.
Caring Cooks
One of the services offered by Caring Cooks is a Weekly Meal Service. This service is designed to support vulnerable families through hardship and allow them to eat well and eat together, at least once a week, without the worry of having to cook or spend money on ingredients. To find out more about this service, please click on the link above.
OLIO
OLIO connects people with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, rather than being thrown away. This could be food nearing its sell-by date in local stores, spare home-grown vegetables, bread from the local bakery, or the groceries in your fridge when you go away. OLIO users can also pick up free non-food household items via the sharing app too. To find out more, click on the link above or download the OLIO app to your phone or tablet.
Freedom Church - The Giveaway
The Freedom Church regularly hosts 'The Giveaway' - an event where you can pick up free second-hand, good quality clothing, shoes and toys. To find out when and where their next event is, or how you can donate any unwanted clothing you may have, click on the link above to view their Facebook page.
Additional Benefits
To assist households that are just above the Income Support with the cost of GST on food, or pensioner households with the cost of heating during the winter months, the Government of Jersey has a Food Costs Bonus and Cold Weather Bonus. To find out more, please click on the link in the text.
In addition to these additional benefits, the Government has implemented a temporary scheme called the Cost of Living Temporary Scheme (COLTS) to help islanders who are struggling with the rising cost of living.
If you receive any of the following support or benefits, you’ll receive an additional payment of £40 for each member of your household each month from April to December 2022:
- Income Support
- COLD Weather Bonus (CWB)
- Pension Plus Scheme (PPS)
- Community Cost Bonus (CCB)
You don’t need to apply for COLTS. Payments will be sent automatically.