Aberdeenshire Council cost of Living Support

Aberdeenshire council have a page on their website dedicated to providing support / links for energy bills, council tax, food banks and more.

Grants and Benefits for Energy Bills

If you are struggling to afford your energy bills, you might be able to take advantage of certain benefits, grants and help offered by the UK government, the Scottish government and energy suppliers.

Please access the following link to find out more:

Whole Family Wellbeing Fund

Not Currently Available Due to High Level of Demand but Applications are Expected to Re-Open Post October Holidays.

The ‘Whole Family Wellbeing Fund’ is a Scottish Government initiative to help families overcome challenges before they reach crisis point. The purpose of the funding is to support low-income families who need help to pay for essential items including: Food, fuel and clothing and other essential practical items needed in the home.

Funding is available for Direct Aid provision to be administered by Children’s Services Social Work to support children, young people and their families experiencing financial hardship. This will enable social workers to provide direct cash support based on assessments of need of individual families and help prevent further crisis.

Who is eligible?

Anyone who has children (under the age of 18) in their household is eligible for support through the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund if they are on a low income and experiencing financial hardship.

A family does not already need to be known to social work to be eligible. Families can self-refer or can be referred for financial support.

How to apply

Families can apply directly by contacting Children's duty Social Work at Huntly either by phone 01466 405959 or by visiting the local office : Family Resource Centre, 4 Deveron Rd, Huntly, AB54 8DU. We, as a school, can also make a referral with your consent and the duty social worker will contact you directly to follow this up. If you would like a referral to be made on your behalf then please contact Jo Munro (PT Equity, Excellence and Wellbeing) using the email address below.

Worrying About Money?

Financial Advice and Support Leaflet

Pupil Equity Funding for Parents and Carers

New Uniform Supplies

If you are looking to purchase new uniform items these can be ordered direct from the suppliers. If your child receives free school meals or you are experiencing financial hardship then please contact Mrs Jo Munro, PT Equity, Excellence and Wellbeing, to discuss what support options may be available for you.

Pre-Loved Uniform Items

Sanitary Items

Aberdeenshire council offer free sanitary products, you can order two months of products; tampons and pads (single use and reusable) online and they will be delivered to you.

Please apply using the following link:

Accessing support services can be challenging for people and partners. Just knowing where to start can be confusing therefore the Marr services directory is a support document that has been created to give partners the information on what support is out there and how people can access it.

Family Fund : Grants for Disabled or Seriously Ill Children

The National charity Family Fund is urging low-income families in Scotland, with disabled or seriously ill children or young people aged 0-17, to apply for grants to help them through the remaining winter months and challenging ongoing impact of the pandemic.

Family Fund are a national charity looking to help families in Scotland who may be eligible for a grant. The families they help include children with a wide range or conditions from cancer and asthma to autism and epilepsy and hearing and communication issues as well as a wide range of other conditions and even if the exact nature of the condition has not been diagnosed your may still be eligible for a grant to help with additional costs and items such as tablets, computers, washing machines etc.

Tackling Poverty and Inequalities

Tenant COVID Grant

The Scottish Government has set up a Tenant Grant Fund to provide financial help to tenants who have fallen behind with rent payments during the pandemic and are at risk of becoming homeless.

The grants help tenants to reduce or pay-off any rent arrears they have built up. They don’t have to be repaid and are available to:

• Council tenants

• Housing association tenants

• Tenants in privately rented accommodation

Parent Employment Support Fund

Scottish Government funding designed to support parents who are experiencing in-work poverty through employability interventions : Please see the information leaflet attached below:

Accessing funded Medical Support via NHS Minor Ailments Service

NHS Minor Ailment Service at Your Local Pharmacy :

This is a service for children, people aged 60 or over, people who hold a medical exemption certificate and people on certain benefits. Once registered your pharmacist can give you medicines for minor illnesses with no charge.

To make use of this service you will need to register with your local pharmacy, you will need to provide some basic information regarding name, address etc and you will also require to produce proof of medical exemption certificate, age or benefits. There is a list of minor illnesses that are provided for under this service and further information in the attached leaflet.

Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme

From the 31st of January young people aged 5-21 will be eligible to receive free bus travel. To receive free travel, you must have a National Entitlement Card (NEC) or a Young Scot NEC which has to be scanned each time you board a bus.

PLEASE NOTE THAT AN EXISTING YOUNG SCOT CARD WILL NOT WORK AND YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR A NEW CARD TO BE ELIGIBLE.

If you are over 16, you will shortly be able to apply direct for a new card.

For under 16s, the parent/guardian must apply for a replacement card via the Parents’ Portal in order to give their consent for the travel element. NB replacement NEC cards ordered direct will be sent to home addresses so pupils will need to get them activated by the school office to use in the canteen.

If you are aged between 16 and 21 and already have an active NEC or Young Scot NEC you can download your free bus travel using the Transport Scot Pass Collect app.

Active cards are those received since 2016 – they’ll have a long number next to the ITSO logo and, if there’s a date of birth shown, it will be highlighted with a pink strip. Please note, any NECs which are dedicated matriculation cards aren’t compatible with the app. Please access further information and a short video guide using the following link: