Local support for anyone worried about managing energy and living costs, debts, buying food and keeping warm.
Financial help and wellbeing and mental health support
If you're struggling with household payments, debts or living costs, there is local and national financial help and support.
'You Are Not Alone' Leaflet with sources of support (2023)
Help For Households - this Government website brings together different support schemes and has a range of online tools to help check the support you might be eligible for and how to access it.
Citizens Advice provides free, confidential, impartial advice, helping find a way forward, whatever problem you face.
If you’re struggling please don’t let things build up. The sooner a call is made to the North Yorkshire Freephone Advice line 0808 278 7900 (9.00 to 4.30 Monday to Friday), the sooner the first steps can be taken. The line is busy but calls are answered by an adviser who can help, so please try again and you will get through.
North Yorkshire Council has a Cost of Living page listing some support schemes and organisations which may be able to help or advise if you are struggling to pay for essentials. Anyone struggling can also go into any North Yorkshire library or North Yorkshire Council office, or call North Yorkshire Council’s customer service centre on 0300 131 2 131 Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 4:30pm asking for ‘cost of living help’ when prompted.
Taking care of our minds as well as our bodies is really important. There is support to help you if you are struggling.
Whether you’re feeling isolated, experiencing anxiety, of low mood, or struggling with any aspect of your emotional wellbeing or mental health, the JustB Hear to Help helpline can support you or signpost to specialist support.
Samaritans are there 24/7 for anyone who wants to talk about how they are feeling. It’s free to call 116 123 from any phone.
Community Food, Clothing and Furniture
Local community providers across Harrogate district are here to help anyone in need with food.
Clothing and furniture banks are here to offer free, good quality, previously owned clothes and furniture to anyone in need.
All enquiries are dealt with in strict confidence.
Resurrected Bites is a Harrogate and Knaresborough based community organisation aiming to reduce food waste, loneliness and food poverty. They offer weekly pay-as-you-feel cafes in Harrogate, Killinghall and Knaresborough, as well as a community groceries scheme.
Harrogate District Foodbank has centres in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Starbeck.
St Peters Church in Harrogate provides breakfasts and mini supermarket produce for those in need on a no questions asked basis.
Ripon Community House provides emergency food support and runs Waste Not Wednesday where all are welcome for donated surplus food from local supermarkets, allotments and gardeners and for a selection of healthy and delicious meals freshly made each week.
Ripon Salvation Army is able to provide food for anyone who is facing hardship or struggling to feed themselves or their family.
Boroughbridge Community Larder has donated food available to anyone, free of charge.
Masham Food Share is a community group supporting people in need and reducing food waste in the Masham area.
Nidderdale Foodbank - For information about how to access food including emergency provisions contact Nidderdale Plus.
Harrogate Clothes Bank provides free pre-loved clothes & shoes for all in need.
The Village Harrogate provides clothes and equipment for babies, clothes for children up to age 6, maternity clothes and school uniforms.
Essential Needs is the local community store for Harrogate district.
Harrogate & Knaresborough Toy Library have toys and resources to borrow.
Harrogate Repair Cafe is a monthly event where you can take household items to be fixed by volunteers for free.
Energy Costs
Warm and Well North Yorkshire can help you if you’re unable to afford your energy bills or worried about heating your home. You can call them on 01609 767 555.
There is also advice on the Yorkshire Energy Doctor website
A Warm Welcome
Community venues, churches and local libraries are friendly, safe and inclusive places, offering not just warmth but a place to enjoy the company of others, and maybe a hot drink and activities. Venues across the Harrogate district are being added to our HADCA Where To Turn Community Information Directory, searchable under the theme ‘Warm Space’.
All venues in North Yorkshire offering a warm space are also being encouraged to add their venue to the national Warm Welcome website.
You can find more information on our Warm Welcome Spaces page
Where To Turn
HADCA’s Community Information Directory for Harrogate District
Here to HELP
To chat through the options if you're struggling please give our HELP team a call on:
01423 813090 or help@hadca.org.uk
Keeping up to date
If you're supporting people in Harrogate district you can subscribe to our weekly bulletins packed with charity and community news, including new grants and resources.
Reviewed December 2024
