Financial wellbeing guide

Your guide to financial wellbeing

Many people are finding it harder to make their money go far enough. The cost of things like energy, childcare, petrol and food keeps rising.

Money worries can feel stressful. They can affect both your physical and mental wellbeing.

You are not alone. We are here to help.

This page offers simple advice to help you manage your money with confidence. It also shows where to get support if you need it.

You can also find a range of information related to staff benefits by visiting;

Updated and accurate at time of publishing July 2026. To be reviewed annually. 

Housing

Discretionary housing payment (DHP)

Those claiming Housing Benefit can apply for a DHP (discretionary housing payment) from their local council if the benefit doesn't cover their rent.

 

Private tenants

If you are a private tenant not in receipt of benefits, Shelter is the best point of contact if you're behind on rent Shelter.

 

Homeowners

If you are a homeowner Citizen's Advice can help you to claim Support for Mortgage Interest from the government (if you are eligible).

Energy bills

Fuel direct scheme

  • If you are in receipt of certain benefits you may be able to pay in instalments through the Fuel Direct Scheme. To set this up, contact your local Jobcentre, who will call your supplier (who they must agree) if you qualify.

 

Energy grants

 

Fuel voucher

  • If you use a prepayment meter for electricity or gas ask your supplier for temporary credit, or contact your local council for a fuel voucher.
  • You can also ask your energy supplier to replace your meter, and upgrade to a smart meter for access to more tariffs. Whatever your meter, you can get free advice from Citizens Advice and claim back live credit on your account at any time. 

Help with grants

Many organisations and charities provide access to financial support for healthcare staff through grant funding.

Here are just some of the organisations you can apply for grant funding with:

 

UNISON

Unison offers a one-off grant of £250 to help with essential expenses, urgent repairs, disability equipment and adaptations, utility bills and funeral costs.

To be eligible to apply for financial assistance, you must have been a member of UNISON for at least four weeks and up to date with your subscriptions.

Tel: 0800 085 7857

 

Royal College of Nursing

The RCN offers benefits and debt advice as well as RCN Foundation Benevolent Service hardship grants for nurses, midwives, and healthcare support workers, who are finding it hard to make ends meet. 

  • Tel: 0345 772 6100 (RCN members) (8:30am -8:30pm, seven days a week)
  • Tel: 0345 772 6200 (Not an RCN Member) (8:30am -8:30pm, seven days a week)

 

The Care Workers' Charity

The Care Workers' Charity offers grants to care workers.

 

CSIS Charity Fund

CSIS Charity Fund assists serving, retired and former civil and public servants, as well as widows and widowers of deceased CSIS policyholders.

Tel: 0748 334 2889

 

Cavell Nurses Trust 

Helping nurses and healthcare assistants, both working and retired, when they're suffering personal or financial hardship. This is often due to illness, disability, older age, domestic abuse and the impact of rising living costs.

 

Turn2us

Turn2us provide access to welfare benefits, charitable grants, and other financial help.

 

Claim tax relief for job expenses

Help with your finances

If you need somewhere to turn to help you get your finances in order, there are lots of organisations and advisory services out there to help you get started.

 

Vivup Employee Assistance Programme

VIVUP can support with financial wellbeing, through offering advice, supporting you with money related stress and offers many benefits.

 

NHS staff finance support line 

NHS colleagues can call this dedicated support line for free and impartial money advice

Call: 0800 448 0826 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)

 

The Debt Respite Scheme

The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) is a statutory debt respite scheme that provides protections for people who are resident in England and Wales and are in problem debt.

 

Mental Health and Money Advice 

The Mental Health Breathing Space (MHBS) scheme is run by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). Breathing Space has been set up to provide support to indebted individuals who are receiving mental health crisis treatment. In essence, the protections offered by MHBS can provide individuals with 'breathing space', so that they can focus on their treatment/recovery, without simultaneously trying to tackle existing debts.

Citizens Advice Bureau

 

Red Cross

 

Financial / legal Support

Tel: 0330 380 0658

 

Ask Bill

For advice on money, bills and debt

 

Angel Advance

Angel Advance provides free online debt advice to get you back on track and make your finances more manageable.

 

Benefit Eligibility Tool

 

National Debt line 

Tel: 0808 808 4000

 

Debt Advice Foundation

Tel: 0800 043 4050

 

The MoneyHelper Service

MoneyHelper offer support to help you manage your finances at home, which offers a dedicated free NHS staff telephone support line.

  • Tel: 0800 448 0826 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
  • WhatsApp +44 07701 342 744 

MoneyHelper also have a range of tools and resources you can use to help with things like budget planning, debt advice, benefits, and help with scams.

 

Money Saving Expert

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis shares his Money Tips and the latest financial advice, including cost of living crisis help

 

Step change debt charity

Free debt advice and help

Tel: 0800 138 1111

 

Cavell 

Help nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, both working and retired, when they're suffering personal or financial hardship. This is often due to illness, disability, older age, domestic abuse and the impact of rising living costs.

Tel: 01527 595 999

 

Turn2us

Support to access welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help. Their website includes a benefits calculator, grants search database, information on welfare benefits, charitable grants and managing money.

 

Social Workers Benevolent Fund (SWBT)

A small charity offering one-off, limited financial help to social workers -including retired social workers -and their dependents in times of hardship 

Tel: 0759 381 9562

 

Serve and Protect Credit Union

Work with employees across the Police, Prison, Military, Fire and Health services to make it easier to save and borrow with repayments straight from salary

 

Getting help with pet health care costs

It can be stressful when your pet is unwell and if you're also worried about money this can make the situation feel worse. The longer your pet is unwell the worse their illness can become. Seeking advice quickly will likely reduce costs overall and be best for your pet's health.

The RSPCA have produced guidance on how to manage the costs and what you can do to keep them down.

Talking about stress relating to your finances

Have a Wellbeing Conversation

  • If you're struggling to make ends meet, please do not suffer in silence. There are many people in the Trust who will listen to your concerns.
  • Ask your line manager for a confidential wellbeing conversation
  • You could also use the 'How are you doing?' tool to frame this conversation.

 

Staff Health and Wellbeing Service

This is a confidential service for all staff across the Trust. The team will provide initial pastoral support and signpost you to help find the most appropriate support services, depending on your needs. In some situations, they can also refer you directly and put you in contact with the relevant services.

 

Vivup Employee Assistance Programme

VIVUP can support with financial wellbeing, through offering advice, supporting you with money related stress and offers many benefits.

 

National mental wellbeing support

NHS England are offering staff free access to psychological and practical support from trained professionals and specialist advice, including financial help.

  • Tel: 0300 131 7000 (7am - 11pm seven days a week)
  • Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7)

Helping you find NHS Staff Deals and Discounts

There are a range of discounts available to NHS staff, whether it's at restaurants, cinemas, clothes shops or toy shops, you can often find there are offers available at both local shops and national chains.

Please visit Connect (Staff only): Staff discounts and benefits

 

 

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