Riding the recession: bright ideas for help and advice
Many Barnet residents will be feeling the effects of widespread public spending cuts.
Below are links to council services, community organisations and national organisations, all of which are here to help you through these difficult times.
Individuals
Boost your income
- Discover hundreds of tips for making the most of your money
- Claim your benefit entitlements
- Are you eligible for benefits? How much could you claim?
- Housing and Council Tax benefits - payments for people on low income to pay their rent and council tax
- Jobseeker's Allowance - the main payment for people of working age who are actively looking for work
- Childcare benefits.
- Keep track of your personal budgets and finances
- Earn regular income: take in a lodger
Save money; save the world
- Reduce energy costs in your home
- Reduce your food waste and save money
- Start composting to save money
- Use Freecycle and get things which are as good as new for free
- Walk and cycle more.
- Use public transport
- Sign up for free public transport with a Freedom Pass – available for disabled residents and older people. Tel:020 8359 4131
- Shop locally to lower your travel costs, reduce your carbon footprint and support your local economy
Free leisure opportunities
- For the family
- Check out the free events on at the artsdepot – the borough’s main arts centre.
- Pay a visit to the interactive and family-friendly Royal Air Force Museum
- Take your young ones to a playground – Barnet has a choice of over 40 play areas
- Take advantage of our premier parks and open spaces
- Enjoy fresh air, peace and quiet in our local nature reserves
- Make the most of your local library. Libraries offer more than books! Membership is free and free WIFI is available to members at many libraries. Check their opening times
- For young people
- Under 19 and want to play more sport? Join our Sport Unlimited programme and take part in a wide range of free or heavily subsidised activities
- Under 16? Swim for free at our leisure centres if you are a Barnet resident
- For older people
- Over 60? Swim for free at our leisure centres if you are a Barnet resident
- Meet new people and participate in a range of activities at one of the borough’s community day centres for older people
New jobs, new skills
- Access the Next Step careers service. Tel. 0800 100 900
- Search for jobs on Jobcentre Plus
- Help if you are looking for work
- Find job vacancies near to where you live by using these free applications for your phone: for the iPhone.
- Help if you are applying for a job
- Starting your own business?
- Get your graduate business off the ground
- Learn and improve your skills for work
- Local training
- Barnet College – enrol from a wide range of academic and vocational courses. The college actively supports part-time study and welcomes students of all ages.
- Forward4Work – short skills training courses at Barnet College to help you back into employment
- Free IT training
- Local internships – enhance your CV; build valuable skills and confidence
- Local volunteering – enhance your CV; build valuable skills and confidence; help others; make friends
- Volunteer Centre Search
- Look up Community Barnet, the borough's main voluntary and community support organisation
Feeling worried
- Money
- Confused by jargon? Get the facts at MoneyMadeClear
- Trouble paying utility bills?
- Trouble paying your council tax? Tel: 020 8359 2608; Email: local.taxation@barnet.gov.uk
- Concerned about your pension? Tel: 0845 601 2923
- Concerned about debt?
- Are you the victim of a loanshark: illegal money lending?
- Family
- Support your children in staying
- Worried about your family? Worried about a child? Access Barnet's Family Support Services
- Access Relate’s relationship counselling service. Tel: 0300 100 1234
- Are you a victim of domestic violence? Call Women’s Aid national helpline. Tel: 0808 2000 247
- A guide for supporting children
when families break up - Housing
- Access our housing advice service. Tel: 020 8359 4797; Email: homeseekers@barnet.gov.uk
- Free independent housing advice line, provided by Shelter . Tel: 0808 800 4444
- Problems with your mortgage repayments?
- Trouble paying your rent?
- Facing homelessness?
- Health and stress-related issues
- Stay healthy on a budget
- Get confidential support with drugs and alcohol misuse from Barnet Drug and Alcohol Service – 0208 937 7770 – and the national charity, Addaction.
- The Samaritans’ confidential listening service – 08457 90 90 90
- Career
- Dealing with redundancy
- ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
- Legal issues
- Free, confidential and independent legal advice
Businesses
- Access specialist advice and participate in local events with Business Link in London
- Are you eligible for small business rate relief?
- Free confidential debt advice for small businesses from Business Debtline. Tel: 0800 197 6026
- Get support for starting your own business
- Get support for starting your graduate business
- Have you thought of doing business with the council?
(PDF 155KB) - Speedy payments for local businesses – the council commits to paying all invoices received from all businesses in the borough within 10 days
Voluntary and community groups
- Supporting you through spending cuts: policy alerts, strategic advice, financial advice and employment advice.
- Are you eligible for charitable and discretionary rate relief?
Disclaimer: Barnet Council is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Email this pageLast modified by: Webmaster on 08/07/2011