Support available in your community

On top of the financial and other support available, there are also lots of community groups and local organisations that can help people who are struggling with the cost of living.

Below you will find a list of support available across the district, which will be updated on a regular basis.

Advice and support around finances:

The Churn

Churn Project supports clients by:
-giving support to apply for appropriate hardship grants (e.g. Warm & Well, Barnwood Trust, Children in Need) for items including white goods, carpets, blankets etc
-supporting families to apply for free school meals and other funding
-identifying debt issues and referring to Citizens Advice or Stepchange, including support attending appointments or making telephone calls
-advocate on behalf of clients (e.g. phone calls on their behalf to utility companies)
-signpost to P3 for housing advice
-we make clients aware of their benefit entitlement, and offer support with applications, including form filling and attending appointments
-distribute activity packs and donated Xmas presents to families and older people
-Upskilling: We invite guest speakers into groups, including Energy Saving advice and fire service to share information
-Literacy and numeracy support to upskill people (121 support for people)
-Foundation Maths and English Classes and employment support, including Work Club (CV writing, job applications, interview technique) to help people find work
-support with correspondence, e.g. reading letters and helping people know what to do, rather than ignoring issues
-most of our groups are free, if group activity has a cost, we ask for a donation and people only pay if they can afford to
-offer trips and activities for free or at reduced price. e.g. Friendship Café trips to local venues at reduced cost or family trips free in school holidays (HAF)
-groups and activities delivered in a safe warm space with refreshments included, e.g. Chat and Connect Group offers newspapers, games and activities and a toasted sandwich
-Cook Cirencester donate frozen meals for us to give to people in need
-Cook Cirencester donate free cake for the Ageing Well Friendship Café
-our groups offer refreshments for free (or low donation)
-support clients to apply for foodbank

Area covered: Cirencester and Surrounding Areas

Contact: michelle.bradburn@thechurn.org.uk 

Website: https://www.churnproject.org.uk/

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice (CA) Cotswold District helps people to solve their problems, whatever they are, by providing free, confidential and impartial advice, particularly on debt, benefits, employment, housing, family and consumer problems. CA is also administering part of the Household Support Fund and can help with funding for energy costs, food and wider essentials.

Address: 2-3 The Mews, Cricklade Street, Cirencester, GL7 1HY

Area covered: Cotswolds

Contact: 0808 800 0510/0511

Website: www.citizensadvice-stroudandcotswold.org.uk

Chipping Campden Money Management

This course is completed online and will teach you how to budget your coming year in detail so that you can identify future problems and take the appropriate action. It can also be used to identify savings required for big events.

Area covered: Chipping Campden

Contact: martin@rightangles.co.uk 

Website: https://www.campdenbaptist.org.uk/mmc

Age UK

Ensure people are claiming any financial support they are entitled to such as attendance allowance, helping to fill forms in, help to support older people in their homes and provide activities and events for people to go to.

Address: Henley House, Barnett Way, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3RT

Area covered: Gloucestershire

Contact: 01452 422660 - Enquiries@ageukgloucestershire.org.uk 

Website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/gloucestershire/

Support in the community

Chipping Campden Support Hub

Helping residents in and around Chipping Campden, they can:
-provide information and point people towards sources of assistance available from other providers
-help arrange practical assistance where needed, if necessary through their own volunteers
-offer financial assistance in accordance with their charitable objectives if limited funds permit

Contact: info@campden-support.com 

Website: www.campden-support.com 

P3

Supporting and guiding people who are in a crisis, developing solutions to the root cause of their crisis to ensure they do not find themselves in such a situation again.
Drop in services at:

• Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm at Moreton in Marsh, Navigator Cotswolds, Upper Floors, The Windrush, High Street - 01608 653377.
• Tuesdays 9am to 12pm at King George's Hall, Chapel Lane, Mickleton, Glos, GL55 6SA.
• Wednesdays 9am to 11am at the George Moore Community Centre, Moore Road, Bourton on the Water, GL54 2AZ.
• Mondays 1pm to 4pm at Community Drop-In Tetbury, The Old Court House, 63 Long Street, Tetbury, Glos.
• Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm at Navigator Cotswolds Cirencester, Northway House West, The Forum, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 2QY.

Area covered: Gloucestershire

Contact: 0808 168 2443

Website: www.p3charity.org

Your Circle

The Your Circle website is an online directory of support services available in Gloucestershire to help you find your way around care and support and connect with people, places and activities: www.yourcircle.org.uk

Gloucestershire County Council Support Hub

Gloucestershire County Council have an online support hub with a wealth of local information including on money, food, energy, warm spaces, transport/travel and mental health and wellbeing: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/support-hub/

They also have a list if warm spaces and ‘Warm and Welcome’ allowing residents to access free warm and welcoming spaces within libraries: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/your-community/support-hub/warm-spaces/ 

Support for mental health and wellbeing:

Cotswold Friends

They aim to combat loneliness and isolation and their services improve health and wellbeing and support independent living. Examples of services are befriending and community transport. Weekdays open 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Address: Moreton Area Centre, High Street, Moreton in Marsh, GL56 OAZ

Area covered: Cotswolds

Contact: 01608 651415 - info@cotswoldfriends.org 

Website: https://www.cotswoldfriends.org/

GRCC Community Wellbeing Service

The Cotswolds Community Wellbeing Service is a free and confidential service which offers support to help improve your health and wellbeing. If you are feeling lonely, struggling with your mental health, experiencing change (e.g redundancy, retirement) or want general help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, then our service can help.

Address: Community House, 15 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LZ

Area covered: Gloucestershire

Contact: 07738 106384 or email cws.grcc@nhs.net 

Website: https://www.grcc.org.uk/what-we-do/community-wellbeing-service

Domestic Abuse Support Service

Supporting victims of domestic abuse which may increase with the stresses of financial problems, 24hour National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247.

Open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Area covered: Gloucestershire

Contact: support@gdass.org.uk 01452 726570

Website: https://www.gdass.org.uk/

Guideposts

Guideposts is a UK-based charity working with people in local communities to help them access the support, opportunities and skills they need to overcome social challenges, improve their wellbeing and change their lives.

Address: St James Court, 285 Barton Street, Gloucester, GL1 4JE

Area covered: Gloucestershire

Contact: 01452 529697

Website: www.guideposts.org.uk

Support for families with children:

Homestart

A local charity that provides emotional and practical support to parents with at least one child under 5 years old who are facing challenges and stresses of family life, including a wide range of difficulties such as isolation, low self-esteem, physical and mental health issues. The emphasis is on parents helping parents in this increasingly pressured society. Office opening times 9.30am – 1pm, Monday to Friday.

Address: c/o Cirencester Baptist Church, Chesterton Lane, Cirencester, GL7 1YE

Area covered: Cotswold District

Contact: office@home-start-cotswolds.org.uk Tel.: 01285 885391 

Website: https://home-start-cotswolds.org.uk/

Help with feeding yourself and your family:

Tetbury Town Council

Tetbury Town Council, Tetbury Tesco and The Woolsack Kitchen Tetbury have teamed together to do monthly cooking demonstrations in Tetbury Tesco showcasing a meal for a family of 4 for £5 or under. A section within the supermarket has all ingredients and recipe cards for the whole of the month.

Contact: wellbeing@tetbury.gov.uk 

Tetbury Community Fridge

Access at the back of the Town Council building for Tetbury residents only.

Area covered: Tetbury

Contact: wellbeing@tetbury.gov.uk 01666 504670

Website: https://tetburychurch.co.uk/community-fridge/

North Cotswolds Foodbanks

Contact: info@northcotswold.foodbank.org.uk 07879 375562

Website: https://northcotswold.foodbank.org.uk/

Chipping Campden Foodbank

Open every Friday 12.30 - 1.30pm - voucher/referral needed.

Address: Baptist Church, High St, GL55 6HU

Moreton in Marsh Foodbank

Open every Tuesday 10am - 12pm - voucher/referral needed

Address: Congregational Church, Oxford St, GL56 0LA

Bourton on the Water Foodbank

Open every Thursday 10am - 12pm - voucher/referral needed

Address: Baptist Church, Station Rd, GL54 2AA

Stow on the Wold Foodbank

Open every Wednesday 10am - 12pm - voucher/referral needed

Baptist Church, Sheep St, GL54 1AA

Guiting Power Foodbank

Open every Tuesday 10am - 12pm - voucher/referral needed.

Address: Unit 2 Glebe Farm Buildings, Guiting Power, GL54 5TZ

Cirencester Area Foodbanks

Contact: info@cirencester.foodbank.org.uk 01285 896360

Website: https://cirencester.foodbank.org.uk/

Cirencester Foodbank

Open every Thursday 1.15pm - 3.15pm - voucher/referral needed.
Delivery Service Mon - Thurs 10am - 1pm - voucher/referral needed. Deliveries for those with transport issues, sickness etc - aim to deliver within 48 hours.

Address: Cirencester Opportunities Group, Beeches Rd, GL7 1BW

Tetbury Foodbank

Open every Tuesday 11 am - 1pm - voucher/referral needed

Address: St Mary's Community Centre, St Marys Rd, GL8 8BW

Fairford Foodbank

Delivery service only - Mon - Wed 9.30am - 12.30pm voucher/referral needed

People with a foodbank voucher will be contacted about their delivery & arrangements made to deliver during opening hours - Mon - Wed am.

Warm spaces:

The Churn Project

Friday ‘Chat and Connect’ group 1pm to 3pm every Friday at the Churn. Soup / toasted sandwiches / hot drinks/ wifi access / access to charge phones (plug sockets!) and newspapers, board games etc.

Address: 14-16 The Waterloo, Cirencester, GL7 2PY

Website: https://www.churnproject.org.uk/

Tetbury Friendship Cafe

Friendship Cafe - every Thursday at Dolphins Hall, from 10am to 12 noon.

Free tea/coffee and biscuits are donated by local branches of Tesco and Co-op. All welcome!

Address: New Church St, Tetbury, GL8 8DS.

Churches Together in Cirencester

Sundays
Various Services across the town – see www.ctinc.org.uk for links to church websites.

Mondays
Hope Cirencester Games Club & Drop In at the Salvation Army Hall in Thomas Street from 10:00 to 11:45 including hot drinks, toast and snacks. Term time only.
Contact Tel: 07923 989373 for further details.

Dwelling Place Café at Harnhill – alternate Mondays from 10:30 to 12:30 – shared craft workshops.
Contact Tel: 01285 850283 for further details.

Tuesdays
Hope Cirencester Art Group (term time only) 10:00 to 12:00 – Salvation Army Hall, Thomas Street - refreshments available - £1 per session.
Contact Tel: 07923 989373 for further details.

Squeals on Wheels – parents & children from 1yr to 4yrs – 10:00 to 11:30 - term time only, small charge for attending. Followed by light lunch and hot drink available until 1:45, Ashcroft Church, Ashcroft Rd.
Contact Tel: 01285 651145 for further details.

Ashcroft Ladies – from 3:15 onwards - £2 per session at Ashcroft Church, Ashcroft Road.
Contact Tel: 01285 651145 for further details.

Time Out Café – at Cirencester Baptist Church, Chesterton Lane 9:30 to 12:00 serving bacon rolls, cheese scones, home made cakes, teas & coffee etc.
Contact Tel: 01285 643510 for further details.

Wednesdays
Time Out Café – at Cirencester Baptist Church, Chesterton Lane 9:30 to 12:00 serving bacon rolls, cheese scones, home made cakes, teas & coffee etc.
Contact Tel: 01285 643510 for further details.

Thursdays
Cirencester Quakers – 11:00 to 1pm – offering tea, coffee, soup & chat – Friends Meeting House, Thomas Street.
Contact Tel: 01285 652217 for further details.

Hope Cirencester Drop In from 10:00 to 11:45 (including literacy group from 10:30 to 11:30) – Salvation Army Hall, Thomas Street – refreshments available.
Contact Tel: 07923 989373 for further details.

Fridays
Coffee Cup at Ashcroft – 10:30 to 12:00 - £1 per mug – followed by a light lunch and hot drink available until 1:45, Ashcroft Church, Ashcroft Road.
Contact Tel: 01285 651145 for further details.

Saturdays - Currently no provision.

Warm spaces in Tetbury

Cotswold Leisure Centres

Leisure Centres in Cirencester, Bourton-on-the-Water and Chipping Campden will be providing a warm hub for local residents this winter.

The café/seating areas, which are accessible without entry to the facilities, are the perfect areas for anyone wishing to come in and warm up or meet new people. Everyone Active will also be introducing the Hidden Disability Sunflower lanyard for residents to choose to wear in the facilities and feel supported by colleagues and other customers.

To find information on your local centre go to: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/

 

Kemble Village Hall

Open to all on Tuesdays from 2pm to 5.30pm. (Not the 27th December 2022 or 3rd January 2023). 

Free tea, coffee and biscuits, WiFi and unsupervised children's area. 

Address: School Rd, Kemble, GL7 6AF.

For any questions contact Martin on 07836 663165. 

 

 

If you run a local support group and would like to add it to the list please email community.support@cotswold.gov.uk 

Related Pages

• Help if you're struggling with the cost of living
• How you can support your local community through the cost of living crisis
• Support for communities
• Cotswold Connected Community and Food Programme