Rugby Foodbank provides three day emergency food parcels for residents struggling to put food on the table.
Food parcels contain nutritionally balanced, tinned and dried foods which can be adapted to suit dietary needs, such as gluten intolerant or allergies.
Usually, the foodbank can also provide additional items for babies, such as nappies and baby food.
Rugby Foodbank operates a referral scheme, working with a wide range of care professionals who issue foodbank vouchers to people in need. Care professionals partnered with Rugby Foodbank include doctors, health visitors, social workers and Rugby Citizens Advice.
Low-income families receiving a qualifying benefit, such as Income Support or Universal Credit, can apply for free school meals for children during term-time.
Rugby Citizens Advice offers free, confidential, and impartial advice on a wide range of topics, including debt, benefits, employment, housing, health, and much more.
Support includes help in securing a debt management plan, advice on managing mortgage or rent arrears, and guidance on budgeting.
If you have complex debt issues and problems with housing including eviction and procession, Citizens Advice offers a specialised casework service.
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have reached State Pension age and have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. It is not means-tested, what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you receive.
The council has a limited amount of money to provide extra help to pay your rent or council tax, for a limited time (usually up to three months). The awards are intended to help you adjust to a change in your circumstances or to meet a short-term issue.
To be eligible for discretionary housing payment, you must be entitled to either housing benefit or universal credit with a housing costs element.
To be eligible for discretionary council tax payment, you must be named on the council tax bill at your address and be in severe financial hardship. You must also have a shortfall in your rent or council tax payments.
Flexible payments - repay weekly, fortnightly or monthly by debit card, standing order of from your benefits. Repay over a maximum of five years
Call Clockwise Credit Union Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 4pm on 0330 175 5792 or visit their website.
Turn2us Grants
Explore Turn2us Grants Search to find organisations that may be able to offer you a grant or other types of support.
Across the UK, registered charities provide grants to help people in need. These grants are awarded based on individual circumstances, such as your employment history or health condition.
Armed forces or ex-forces personnel
The Royal British Legion provides financial and emotional support for serving members of the armed forces, ex-forces personnel and their families.
Whether you need help with debt or a financial emergency, support to apply for grants or expert advice on claiming compensation for an injury, the Royal British Legion can help.
You can find out more information and contact the Legion via its website.
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, also offers support to serving members of the armed forces, ex-forces personnel and their families.
The charity offers advice on managing personal income, expenditure and debts, help with housing issues and can help you access vital domestic goods. SSAFA can also help with disability support, mental wellbeing and health care.
A number of telephone and broadband providers offer 'social tariffs' - often referred to as 'basic' or 'essential' packages - for customers who claim Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other benefits.
Ofcom publishes information on its website about the current social tariffs on offer, together with a step-by-step guide on how to switch provider if you want to move to a cheaper package.
Visit Ofcom for more information on social tariffs.
Energy and water bills
Act on Energy
Can help with financial support toward current energy debts and assistance to repair or replace broken boilers and heating systems.
Act on Energy has a freephone advice line and Community Outreach Officers who offer home visits and can install various small energy-saving measures. They also assist with applications for energy efficiency grants to help keep your home warmer and reduce your bills. A benefit and financial welfare check can also help those struggling with the cost of living.
Severn Trent Water offers a reduction of water bills to any Severn Trent customer with a household income below £23,492.
The scheme will access your household income when you apply, and that assessment will determine your eligibility. They may also take into consideration personal savings as part of the assessment.
You may be eligible for cold weather payments if you receive benefits or support for mortgage interest.
If you’re eligible, you’ll receive these payments automatically. You do not need to apply, but you may need to tell Jobcentre Plus if you have a baby or if a child under 5 comes to live with you. The payments do not affect your other benefits.
You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.
You’ll get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026.
Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. If you get Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as Housing Benefit and Winter Fuel Payment.
See if you’re eligible and to make a claim at GOV.uk, or call Pension Credit claim line on 0800 991 234.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill.
If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you. You’ll usually get the discount automatically if you’re eligible.
You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you’re eligible. Contact your supplier to find out.
The discretionary scheme provides emergency support for food, energy, or other essential needs through vouchers, food parcels from local community food banks or credit for energy services.
To apply for support, call the Local Welfare Scheme on 0800 408 1448 or 01926 359182 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and until 4.30pm on Friday. Funding is available from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Rugby Bareboards Trust collects good quality, unwanted furniture to help furnish the homes of residents on low-incomes or in receipt of benefits.
The charity distributes furniture, soft furnishings, kitchenware, electrical appliances, gardening equipment and household items.
The trust checks and tests all items before distributing to residents in need. You can be referred to the trust by support services or contact the trust directly. A small donation may be requested.
You can call Rugby Bareboards Trust, based at 36 Warren Road, Rugby, CV22 5LG, on (01788) 547358.
Offers support and advice on finding a job, and also offers support to claim the benefits you're entitled to, such as Jobseeker's Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, and Income Support.
You can visit Rugby JobCentre Plus Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm at Kingsforth House, Albert Street, Rugby, CV21 2TD.
A number of job clubs in the borough can offer advice and support to help you find work.
Benn Partnership Centre Work Club
Support includes CV writing, help with job searching, and help with job applications. Computers and WIFI is available. Visit the Benn Partnership Centre website.
Address: Benn Partnership Centre, Railway Terrace, Rugby, CV21 3HR.
New Bilton Community Association
A welcoming space for friendship, board games, a hot drink and community support. Get help with writing CV's, searching for jobs, and completing job applications. Access to computers and WIFI is available.
Drop-in to Quaker Meeting House, 28 Regent Place, Rugby, CV21 2PN from 1pm to 5pm every Wednesday.
Brownsover Buddy Club
Run by Brownsover Community Association, the Buddy Club offers advice and support to help you find a job, and can also help you with computer skills.
Offers a wide range of activities for children and families, including sessions for babies, toddlers and children aged up to 13, as well as children with additional needs.
Offers activities from arts and crafts, table tennis, cookery, personal development and volunteering opportunities for young people. Different youth clubs take place across Rugby,learn more.
Family Information Service
Helps Warwickshire families access appropriate support, such as childcare. special educational needs and disabilities, money support such as household debt and benefits and much more.
Every day of the week, Rugby has various community spaces that are inviting and friendly for residents seeking companionship in a comfortable and safe environment, often with Wi-Fi and warm drinks. Find your nearest warm hub.
Other useful information
Cost of Living Warwickshire
Warwickshire services are working together to help people find the information they need to manage increased household costs. This is a difficult time for many people and finding direct support can be hard. National and local links to services are listed on their page as well as information on related topics.
Our benefits calculator makes it quick and easy to find out what benefits you could be entitled to.
The calculator is free to use and is anonymous. It only takes 10 minutes, but before you start make sure you have information to hand about savings, income, pensions and existing benefits.
