Support for people in Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside and across Greater Manchester
Find information at the links below. Please contact services and organisations directly for more information.
Oldham
Find help and support in Oldham
Cost of Living Help - Oldham Council
Oldham Council have put together a range of support and guidance to help with issues like debt, finding a job, heating your home, feeding your family and more.
Visit www.oldham.gov.uk/wecanhelp
Call 0161 770 7007 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm)
Warm Banks
Oldham Council have a number of Warm Banks available across local libraries and community centres that you can visit to keep warm at no cost.
Take this time to browse the internet, reconnect with a book or just have a hot drink. Library staff are on hand to offer support, advice and a friendly face to chat with.
Household Support
The Household Support Fund invested directly in organisations working closely with individuals and households in Oldham who are at risk due to the adverse impact of the Cost of Living crisis.
We have collated a list of the funded organisations, the services they provide and how to access them on our website.
Oldham Money Advice Referral Tool
Greater Manchester Poverty Action has co-produced a Money Advice Referral Tool for Oldham Borough. The tool describes all the places that people can go for advice and other income maximisation support. The aim is to help people get all the money that they are entitled to, and to reduce the need for referrals to food banks, by increasing referrals to other kinds of support.
Watch a bite-sized training video explaining how to use the guide
Cost of Living support from frontline services
Find out about Cost of Living support available from frontline services across Oldham Borough.
Please note, these videos were produced in 2022 and 2023 and information may be out of date. Please contact services directly for the most up to date information.
Winter Support from local organisations
Oldham Council have lined up lots of exciting events for children and young people to enjoy over the winter holidays as part of their latest Holiday Activities and Food programme
With activities such as multi sport camps and dance classes available, parents with children aged five to sixteen years in receipt of benefit related free school meals, can book on for free, with each place including a healthy hot meal too.
This is a fantastic offer for local families, and it helps to support with added childcare costs and food bills which most households contend with during the school holidays.
If you work with, or know of, any eligible families, please signpost them to the HAF Programme.
To book their children onto HAF activities, parents are advised to visit whatsonoldham.org/
Spark Oldham have provision running in the winter school holidays.
UKeff are pleased to announce the provision of their Warm Food Hub.
They will provide snacks, hot drinks, and a hot Christmas Dinner for those who are struggling and will benefit from support and assistance.
View UKEFF Warm Food Hub
Rochdale
Find help and support in Rochdale
Cost of Living Support - Rochdale Council
Rochdale Council have information on what cost of living help is available, how to apply and where to go for advice. Call 01706 923 685 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm).
Warm Welcome Spaces
Warm Welcome Spaces in the borough of Rochdale are places where local people can gather for free in a warm, safe and welcoming place, and enjoy a free drink, activities and access to other services.
All venues will offer free hot and cold drinks, activities and advice. Some venues will offer additional services such as free wifi. All Warm Welcome Spaces will be heated, safe, friendly and neutral places where you can comfortably spend time reading, studying or chatting with others. We won’t ask why you need a Warm Welcome Space.
You can also email: WarmSpace@rochdale.gov.uk
Household Support Fund
With funding made available by the Department for Work and Pensions, Rochdale Borough Council are investing a further £2.3 million between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025 to help support households most in need.
This financial support will be used for:
- Food vouchers - we're targeting support for low-income families by providing e-food vouchers.
- Household Fund - we've invested further in our local Household Fund for anyone in financial need.
- Food, digital, prevention and wider essentials grants – distributed through the borough of Rochdale’s network of Voluntary, Community Groups, Faith and Social Enterprise Groups (VCFSE)
- Warm Homes - this is administered through a partnership between our Strategic Housing Team and Groundwork.
- Welfare advice in schools
- Work and Skills – we’ve invested in our Work and Skills team so they can better support residents in to employment and training.
They are working with partners across the borough, including the voluntary sector, community groups and charities, to make sure those most in need receive the targeted assistance.
Food Support Signposting
In partnership with current food providers, Rochdale Council and Action Together have developed this signposting resource that will help groups, individuals and families get access to food in the borough.
Rochdale Cost of Living Toolkit
This tool is for anyone in Rochdale Borough looking to do something about money matters. It will help you work out your first priority, what options there are, and who to speak to first.
Winter Support for 2024
| Angie's Angels | For the sixth year running, Angie's Angels are providing their Christmas Eve dinner, to help people who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, are vulnerable or isolated. Their team deliver a meal on Christmas Eve, a little present and snack pack for later in the day. They are now taking referrals for people who might benefit from having a meal delivered on Christmas Eve. This delivery service is an emergency provision, but they also have a drop-in meal available for anyone who can get to them. Angie's Angels, Drake Street, Rochdale, OL16 1PA. |
| The Contact Centre, Rochdale Borough Council | Over Christmas the Contact Centre will only be closed on the Bank Holidays, and weekends. It remains open on: 23, 24, 27, 30 and 31 December 2024, and then 2 and 3 January 2025 from 8:30am until 4pm. Contact: 01706 923 685 |
| HMR Circle | Monday 23 December at St Ann's Belfield Lunch Club, HMR Circle will be serving Christmas dinner with Christmas pudding plus tea and coffee for £5 per person. |
| Rochdale Foodbank | Rochdale Foodbank, 14-16 Newgate, Rochdale OL16 1BA The foodbank will be open as follows: |
| Army of Kindness | Army of Kindness, St Andrew's Church, Entwisle Road, Rochdale OL16 2HZ Christmas meals will be served on: For more details contact: sheraz@armyofkindness.co.uk |
| Lighthouse Project | Lighthouse Foodbank will be open Monday 23 December, 11am-1pm Food Pantry open Tuesday 24 December, 9:30-12.30pm The Lighthouse Project will then be closed from 25 December until Monday 6 January 2025. |
| Thrum Hall Methodist Church | Thrum Hall is providing Christmas meals again this year. These are a 3-course meal delivered to the person on Christmas day. They receive a cold starter, hot meal and dessert, box of chocolates and a Christmas cracker. These meals are for people who live alone, are unable to get out of the house or are unable to afford a meal. To access, please email Marilyn Jones at: maz_jones59@yahoo.co.uk and include the following information: Name, Address (including postcode), Keysafe numbers (if applicable - consent is required for this), Dietary requirements/Allergies. |
| Recovery Republic | Recovery Republic are providing 50 free portions of soup and bread, and hot drinks for the week throughout December and January between 1pm - 3pm, Monday-Friday. It will be a warm space with company, advice and support as well as providing Christmas activities, arts and crafts, games, puzzles, and Christmas films and music. People can just turn up, or can call them in advance on: 01706 622 722 |
Tameside
Find help and support in Tameside.
Helping Hand Cost of Living Support - Tameside Council
Helping Hand Tameside is a one-stop-shop directing you to local support services and organisations. This webpage will help you find local support services to give you a helping hand with the cost of living, your mental health and wellbeing. Call Customer Services on 0161 342 8355
Warm Welcome Hubs
Warm Welcome Hubs are free spaces across Tameside which can be enjoyed by all. Many give the chance for you to socialise with others and provide a number of facilities.
Visit https://www.tameside.gov.uk/helpinghand/warm-welcome-hub
Find national Warm Welcome Spaces at www.warmwelcome.uk
Tameside Money Advice Referral Tool
Greater Manchester Poverty Action has co-produced a Money Advice Referral Tool for Tameside Borough. The tool describes all the places that people can go for advice and other income maximisation support. The aim is to help people get all the money that they are entitled to, and to reduce the need for referrals to food banks, by increasing referrals to other kinds of support.
Find an alternate online version on Tameside Council's website
Greater Manchester
Find help and support across Greater Manchester.
Helping Hand - GMCA
Greater Manchester Combined Authority have advice and support available from organisations across Greater Manchester who can offer a helping hand.
If you prefer to text, you can text 07860 022876 and you will be directed to the right place.
Get To Know Where To Go - GM Integrated Care
With colder temperatures and shorter days - plus all the coughs, colds and bugs doing the rounds - winter can be tough for us all. It’s more important than ever that people get to know where to go if they are unwell or need extra help and support.
Find local support organisations
Our Community Activities Directory features a range of services and support delivered by local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations all year round.