The impacts of rising costs are being felt across Scotland, with costs of everyday essentials such as food, energy, rent and transport rising faster than average incomes or benefits.
Work to help reduce the impact on the people of Scotland is being led by the Scottish Government and locally in Ayrshire is being led by North, East and South Ayrshire Councils and the voluntary sector.
Help with healthcare costs
NHS inform provides information to help with healthcare costs including:
- receiving benefits
- low incomes
- pregnancy
- health entitlement cards
- medical exemption cards if presenting prescriptions in England
- hospital travel costs
Help with energy efficiency and cold homes
Please contact Home Energy Scotland for free and impartial advice on:
- reducing your energy bills
- grants and funding
- helping someone you care for
- additional support to make your home warmer
You can call free on 0808 808 2282 or visit the Home Energy Scotland website.
In North Ayrshire you can also contact Cunninghame Housing Association (CHA) Lemon Aid on 0800 221 8089.
Ayrshire warm/cosy spaces
During the cost of living crisis, warm/cosy spaces are welcoming places in the community where you can go for a cuppa, some company and stay warm, well and safe this winter.
- East Ayrshire Warm/Cosy Spaces Directory
- North Ayrshire Cost of Living Directory Including information on Cosy Spaces
- South Ayrshire’s Cosy Spaces Directory by Voluntary Action South Ayrshire
Cooking and eating on a budget
For resources to help you manage the cost of eating well, please see our printable recipe and information leaflets on:
Where to find support to help you to live a healthier life
Our Better Health website aims to support people to live healthier lives and can help you with a range of issues related to the cost of living crisis as we understand these issues can be overwhelming and can affect your health.
Our Better Health Hub can talk to you about your worries. We can signpost you to cost of living information resources, help you get the most from your healthcare appointments and questions to ask at healthcare appointments. Helping you move towards better health. We also work with partner agencies to bring expert support and advice for issues that can be affecting your health.
Visit the better health hub to find out more, call 01563 825611 or email Better Health Hub.
Information provided on our better health website can help you to improve your health, reduce your costs and worries:
Community Wealth Building – Scotland and Ayrshire’s future economic and societal resilience
The Scottish Government has adopted the internationally recognised Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach to economic development as a key practical means by which we can achieve a wellbeing economy.
CWB seeks to transform local and regional economies enabling more local communities and people to own, have a stake in, access and benefit from the wealth our economy generates. Community Wealth Building can deliver more and better jobs, business growth, community-owned assets, shorter supply chains, creating greater economic resilience and supporting net zero climate change ambitions.
Find out more about CWB in Scotland and how NHS Ayrshire & Arran is adopting a CWB approach to support creation of an Ayrshire Welbeing economy reducing poverty, ill health, social isolation and inequality: