Find out about the range of support provided by Sutton Council, community groups, local charities, and partners in the different sections below.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to go for support, please contact Together for Sutton. This is a free, impartial and confidential advice service which is run by local organisations and funded by Sutton Council.
If you are able to spare some time or donations to help others, please scroll to the bottom of this page to the section called “How you can help others”.
- get advice on saving energy and paying your energy bills
- grants are available to help improve the energy efficiency of your home, making it warmer and greener.
- you could get a free home energy assessment by Thinking Works if you are:
- over 65
- have a long-term health condition such as asthma or diabetes
- have a disability, or
- are on a low income
- if you are over 50, contact Age UK Sutton for support around:
- Warm Homes discount
- winter fuel allowance
- energy provider discounts
- accessing grants for energy improvements
- the National Government’s Cost of Living Support webpage has information about grants and discounts for energy bills
- SES Water offer a 50% discount on bills for customers earning less than £20,111 before any deductions.
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Cheaper broadband and phone packages are available to people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits.
If you are unsure where to go for support, please contact Together for Sutton.
Check your entitlements
- check you are receiving the benefits you are entitled to
- check if you are eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) for rent
- the Government's Help for Households website lists different types of payments or support you could be eligible for, including Cost of Living Payments for people receiving certain disability benefits, pensioners and those on means-tested benefits.
Apply for support:
- apply for Council Tax Reduction
- apply for a crisis loan or grant to help cover unexpected expenses in an emergency
- you may be able to apply for an interest free Budgeting Loan if you don't get Universal credit, or Universal Credit Budgeting Advance if you do
- Turn to Us also offers support in the form of direct grants and funds
- Credit Union is an Ethical lender which is easy to join.
Information, advice and guidance
- some companies charge upfront or hidden fees for debt advice and support plans - you can contact Citizens Advice Sutton for free, confidential debt advice and support for other issues such as:
- welfare benefits
- housing
- employment
- your rights and responsibilities
- visit Sutton Drop-in Centres for cost of living advice on the last Thursday of each month, from 11am to 1pm at the Phoenix Centre
- contact Age UK Sutton if you are over 50 for a wide range of support, from income maximisation to Later Life Planning.
- Christians Against Poverty in Sutton and in Wallington can provide advice on debt and money management.
Budgeting
- making a budget will help you understand where your money goes and where you can save money. You can use this budget planner on the Money Helper website. Christians Against Poverty also offer a free course to help you budget your money.
If you are unsure where to go for support, please contact Together for Sutton.
Sutton Foodbank and Foodshop
- if you are struggling to afford food, you can get emergency food parcels from the Sutton Foodbank
- the Sutton Foodshop in the St Nicholas Centre has a small membership fee of £3 a week; in return, you can choose from approximately 15-20 items of non-perishable, and chilled and frozen food
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Residents in the St Helier area can access the St Helier Community Food Shop
Other food services
- visit the Little Free Cupboard and Little Free Fridge by the Riverside Centre
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Community project ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ at the Thomas Wall Centre, provides a free box of fresh fruit and veg every Tuesday from 2-6pm
Reduce food cost and food waste
- reduce your food costs by minimising your food waste and using apps like Olio and TooGoodToGo
If you are unsure where to go for support, please contact Together for Sutton.
- you can get general Housing advice on our website
- read our guide to living in temporary accommodation
- check if you are eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) for rent
If you are unsure where to go for support, please contact Together for Sutton.
Food support
- check if your child qualifies for Free School Meals
- find out about our Holiday Activities and Food programme
- if you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk through NHS Healthy Start
- Iceland supermarket have partnered with charity lender Fair For You to create a Food Club offering small interest free loans to help spread out the costs of purchasing food in the school holidays
Clothes
- visit the Sutton Community Uniform bank's free school uniform shop
- Lighthouse provides free pre-loved, good quality clothes and equipment for under 5s.
Financial support
- check if you are eligible for help towards your childcare costs by visiting the Childcare Choices website
- you may be eligible for a Sure start maternity grant; a one off grant payment of £500 to help cover the costs of having a child
- if you are on a low income, raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people, you can find out if you are entitled to a grant from Family Fund
- The Child Maintenance Service offers advice and assistance in claiming financial support where one parent does not live with the child or children
Employment
- If you are a parent of a 6-months to 11-year-old child and are struggling to progress in your job, check if you are eligible for support through the Parental Employment Programme
Activities
- if you have a child under 5 years old, you can access free activities, services, and information and advice by:
- visit your local library to take part in free rhymetime and storytime sessions for children 0 - 5 years or access free activity sheets for school-aged children
- visit the museums and galleries in the borough for free days out
Single parents
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Gingerbread charity provides support for single parents. For more information call 0808 802 0925 or visit their website.
If you are unsure where to go for support, please contact Together for Sutton.
24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line
Sutton Crisis Café
If your mental health is becoming overwhelming and you need friendly support in a non-clinical supportive environment you can access the Sutton Crisis Café out-of-hours between 6.30pm-11pm (last admission 10.30pm), open 7 evenings per week.
- visit the Sutton Crisis Cafe at 63 Downs Road SM2 5NR
- call 0800 012 9082
- email the Crisis Cafe
- complete the Sutton Crisis Cafe referral form
Sutton Mental Health Foundation
Sutton Mental Health Foundation offers wellbeing activities and a drop-in on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Belmont Connect.
No formal referrals are required you can:
- complete the self-referral form.
- visit them at 63 Downs Road SM2 5NR
- call them on 0208 770 0172
- email admin@smhf.org.uk
- check current drop-in times and activities
- book a support appointment at Belmont Connect
Sutton Uplift
Sutton Uplift provides mental health and wellbeing support which is accessible to anyone over the age of 18 living in the borough of Sutton or registered with a Sutton GP. Self-referrals are accepted from people with a mental health or wellbeing need, whether this is due to emotional difficulties or life stressors.
Sutton Uplift is partnering with ieso to provide online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to people in Sutton.
If you're aged 11 to 25
- contact Kooth for free, safe and anonymous online emotional health and wellbeing support
- contact Off the Record for a free counselling service
- if you are a young carer, you can access specialist support from the Sutton Young Carers Service
Drug and alcohol support
- contact Inspire to access their community drug and alcohol service providing free confidential support by qualified counsellors for drugs and alcohol users and their families. You can:
- refer yourself or,
- be referred by your GP, housing provider, probation and other professionals
If you are under the age of 18
- you can access support for drug and alcohol misuse from Switch Sutton
- Sutton Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is for children and young people under 18 years of age, their parents/ carers and other professionals who work with them. For more information please visit Sutton CAMHS or call 020 3513 3800 Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
If you are a man
- you can access mental health and wellbeing support by contacting Sutton Men in Sheds, a support group for men from all backgrounds
If you are over 50 years old
If you are a carer of any age
- you can contact Sutton Carers Centre for information, advice and support
If you are unsure where to go for support, please contact Together for Sutton.
- men, women and children can access support services for domestic abuse:
- you can find more information about domestic abuse support and services on our website
If you are unsure where to go for support, please contact Together for Sutton.
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Some discounts and offers from businesses are published on the National Government’s Cost of Living Support webpage
Transport costs
- if you want to reduce your transport costs, you can:
- access free cycle skills sessions
- plan your journey by public transport
- drive efficiently to reduce your fuel bills and carbon emissions
- TFL offer a free and discounted travel that you may be eligible for
- If you are a Sutton Housing Partnership tenant you may be able to rent items such as furniture of white goods through the STARS scheme
Spending
- reduce your spending by:
- using repair shops and cafes
- visiting the Community Reuse shop at Kimpton
- hiring items from the new Sutton Library of Things
- visiting our libraries to use computers and Wi-Fi for free and access low-cost printing and photocopying
- applying for white goods, gas and electricity top-ups, and food vouchers for Morrisons through crisis loan or grants.
- STARS (Sutton Tenants Appliance Rental Scheme) - new and existing residents can rent furniture and appliances at an affordable weekly cost
- finding tips and deals via the Money Saving Expert website
Water costs
- You may be eligible for the WaterSure scheme to help reduce your water bill
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Get Water Fit calculator - order a range of free devices available to help you save water and money. Free virtual water saving check and you may qualify for free leak repair.
Pet care
Volunteering
- if you are able to spare some time, get in touch with Volunteer Centre Sutton to find out about local volunteering opportunities
Donating
- Sutton Foodbank is accepting:
- cash donations via the Local giving website
- food donations via Big Yellow storage, Tesco Sutton Cheam and Asda Sutton
- donate to the Little Free Cupboard and Little Free Fridge by the Riverside Community Centre
- The Sutton Community Uniform Bank is always looking for items of branded school uniform clothing. If you have unwanted branded items, please email suttoncommunityuniform@sutton.gov.uk or call them on 020 8770 6000 to arrange a collection.