Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Services
Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Services
Cost of Living Support Hubs are a place where residents who are struggling with the cost of living can go for help.
The hubs are hosted in local community spaces and are located across the city for easy access.
Hubs may vary in terms of what support they can offer, so you will need to read each hub’s webpage or contact them directly to find out their specific offer.
Find details of the Cost of Living Support Hubs on our Peterborough Information Network site.
Examples of support the hubs may provide include:
Food banks offering food parcels
Cafes offering meals – either free or on a ‘pay what you can’ basis
Essential items such as nappies or sanitary products
Advice on claiming benefits, obtaining furniture or household goods, or how you can get help with your energy bills
Cost of Living Support Hubs in Peterborough
Peterborough City Council Residents: https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/council/benefits/household-support-fund
Cambridgeshire County Council Residents: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/communities/support-with-the-cost-of-living/household-support-fund
We aim to support vulnerable children, young people, and families to meet their immediate crisis needs which cannot be met anywhere else.
We are fortunate to receive donations and other charitable referral routes so that we can help with such things as:
Access to safe and working appliances
Access to warm spaces
Prevention of hunger
Access to suitable clothing
Access to furniture
The Food Basket is a community fridge providing free, fresh, surplus food to communities. The Food Basket is open to all, and you do not need a referral or voucher to access this service, just come along to your chosen session and bring a bag.
Due to how we receive our food we cannot guarantee what we will have but, in general, it is a mix of fresh fruit and vegetables from farms and supermarkets and bakery goods such as bread and cakes. This can help with food costs and stop food going to waste: good for your pocket and the environment!
Our location and opening times
We’re open from 2pm-4pm
Monday - Orton Child and Family Centre, Herlington, Orton Malborne, PE2 5PW - Stagecoach route 1
Wednesday - East Child and Family Centre, Durham Road, Eastfield, PE1 5JU - Stagecoach route 4
Thursday - First Steps Child and Family Centre, Scalford Drive, Welland, PE1 4TR - Stagecoach route 5A
For more details contact Katy on 07751645513 and follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/PeterboroughFoodBasket
We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why we provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis. We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Website: https://peterborough.foodbank.org.uk/
Contact: https://peterborough.foodbank.org.uk/contact-us/
If you and your family are experiencing a food crisis and you want to be referred to Peterborough Foodbank, please complete our referral form.
Referrals for Christmas gifts has now closed.
For professional referral only - closing 12th December (or when hampers run out)
Professionals should only refer a family for a Christmas food hamper if:
the family live within the boundaries of Peterborough City Council and South Fenland District Council;
the professional knows and is currently working with the family;
the family are known to be living in need and there are no opportunities for the family to access other funds.
You will know that Barnardo’s is very happy to help any children in need but we have noticed that some families are repeatedly put forward by some organisations, so we are adding this information for professionals to read prior to referral. We hope this helps you to decide which of your families you will put forward.
Please make sure you read the statement in italics below before referring any families.
To ensure this support reaches those most in need, we kindly ask that referrals are made with care and consideration.
Please only submit a referral form if you are currently working with the family and are confident that they are experiencing genuine need or crisis.
Our aim is to provide meaningful support that helps families build resilience and access the right resources. We want to avoid creating dependency or a sense of entitlement and instead focus on empowering families through appropriate care.
If a family was referred in 2024, we would not expect to see a repeat referral unless there is a new or ongoing crisis. Repeated referrals may suggest that previous support hasn’t had the intended impact, and we’d want to explore how best to address that. We will check if a referral was made last year and if so, the referral may be refused.
Thank you for your continued commitment to supporting families with compassion and integrity.
This is the link for professionals only to use:
Our community cafe’s offer low-cost, hot meals and refreshments to all members of the local community. Everyone is welcome.
Adult’s meals range from £1 to £1.50; and children’s meals for 50p.
Address: Honeyhill Child and Family centre, Honeyhill, Paston, Peterborough, PE4 7DR (Stagecoach route 2)
Opening hours: 11.30am-1.30pm (last orders at 1.00pm)For more information call Katy 07751645513 or Sherrie 07808516764
Address: First steps Child and Family Centre, 20 Scalford Drive, Welland, Peterborough, PE1 4TR
Opening hours: 12pm-2pm (last orders at 1.30pm)
For more information call James: 07756 228386 or Sherrie: 07808 516764
We offer a varied timetable of activities, as well as one-to-one support and advice on a range of topics. We can also signpost you to specialist organisations that may be able to help,
We run several Child and Family Centres across Peterborough and South Fenland. At each Centre, we offer support for children, young people, and families.
If you would like support from one of our services, please complete our referral form.