Benefits, Debt, Money and Work

Citizens Advice
Helps people who are struggling to afford their energy bills or top up their prepayment meter. They provide information and advice about certain benefits, grants and help offered by the government and energy suppliers.

CAP (Christians Against Poverty)
Debt counselling and community groups on managing money and debt.
Tel: 0800 328 0006

Frontline Debt Advice
Offers information about debt and benefits.

Money Wellness

Debt advice and money management.

Phone: 0800 011 4231 (Local rate: 0161 241 7340)

Money Wellness is one of the largest providers of free debt advice and debt solutions in the UK. Their specialist advisers are available seven days a week to support customers over the phone and they also offer online debt advice 24/7.

They work with many other support organisations to make sure that when people get debt advice, they also receive the wraparound support needed to deal with issues such as domestic abuse, addiction, and mental and physical illness. Their services are fully accessible, and their advisers are trained to provide vulnerable customers with the bespoke care and support they need.

They also offer tailored support for harder-to-reach groups, including translation services for 240 languages.

Free Course
Written by the The Open University with MoneySavingExpert providing financial support and guidance.

Romsey Community Services
Offers courses supporting the unemployed to move closer to the workplace.

Sector Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP)
A fast way into work: Free Constructions Skills Training.

Winchester City Council
Works with Hampshire County Council to provide free advice services to council, private and housing association tenants, and homeowners, to help people keep warm and healthy in their homes

Community Hubs and Digital Drop-in sessions: What’s on – Housing Events and Activities – Winchester City Council

Community Hubs are a great support mechanism for Winchester City Council tenants to come and talk directly to a member of Winchester City Council Staff. Winchester City Council Officers are joined by Citizens Advice and other supportive organisations to answer questions on income maximisation, benefit entitlement, debt relief, sustaining your private or council tenancy and much more! No need to book, just come along. Then hubs take place in four different locations:

Alresford: Every 4th Friday of the Month between 10am and 12pm. Coffee#1, Alresford, 2-4 East St, Alresford SO24 9EE.
Wickham: Every 1st Monday of the month | 2.30pm – 4.30 pm. Wickham Community Centre, Mill Lane, Wickham, Fareham PO17 5AL.
Winchester: Every 3rd Thursday of the month |10.30am – 12.30pm. Unit 12 Community Food Pantry, Winnall Valley Rd, Winchester SO23 0LD.
Winchester: Every 3rd Monday of the month | 10.00am – 12pm. The Carroll Centre, Somers Close, Stanmore, Winchester SO22 4EJ

Literacy/IT Skills

Read Easy Winchester
A voluntary organisation affiliated to the national charity, Read Easy UK. It is a free, one-to-one service designed for adults who want to learn to read at their own pace, without pressure, or who struggle with their reading. It’s friendly, flexible and fun!

Winchester City Council
Works with Hampshire County Council to provide free advice services to council, private and housing association tenants, and homeowners, to help people keep warm and healthy in their homes

Digital Drop-in sessions: What’s on – Housing Events and Activities – Winchester City Council

Digital Drop-Ins are for anyone who is struggling with their tablet/ laptop/ smart phone. If they need some-on to one IT support, this is a FREE session where they can get tailored support for their technology problems there, they can access expert assistance for all your tech-related questions and challenges. The sessions are arranged in four different locations:

Winchester: Every second Tuesday of the month 10.00am – 12.00pm at King Harold Court, Residents Lounge, Christchurch Street, Winchester, SO23 9SA
Alresford: Every third Wednesday of the month 10:00 – 12.00pm at St Gregory’s Church, Grange Rd, Alresford SO24 9HB
City Council Offices: Every first Thursday of the month 12.30pm – 2.30pm Winchester City Council offices, Colebrook Street, Winchester, SO23 9LJ.
Greens Close: Every fourth Wednesday of the month 10.00am – 12.00pm. Greens Close, Bishops Waltham, Winchester, SO32 1JT