Wellbeing and money worries
Support if you are in debt
You do not have to face debt alone. Find free, confidential debt advice and money guidance from trusted organisations that can help you manage financial difficulties and explore your options.
Mental health support
Worrying about money can impact your wellbeing and poor mental health can make it harder to manage your money. Mental health charity Mind have lots of resources and useful information to help you stay well.
Community support
Rising costs can make it harder to afford things you enjoy but staying connected with others can you feel happier. There are lots of free or affordable local groups and services that could help you:
- feel part of your community
- make new friends
- learn new skills and feel more confident
- get help with money worries
- improve your health and wellbeing
Suffolk InfoLink Community Directory has details of thousands of activities, services and events across Suffolk.
There are lots of friendly places across Suffolk where you can meet others and chat:
- Suffolk Libraries - all libraries in Suffolk are warm spaces
- Good Neighbour schemes offer help with everyday tasks and often run coffee mornings, afternoon teas, or lunch clubs
- Men’s Sheds are friendly workshops where people can share skills and talk
- The Rural Coffee Caravan brings people together in villages for social events
- Living Well in Winter Groups offers accessible, inclusive spaces and affordable activities that help you stay connected throughout Winter
- Exercise Referral Scheme - if your doctor thinks it would help, you can join fun exercise sessions to feel better
- Our Holiday Activities and Food Programme includes free holiday clubs and meals for qualifying children
- Feel Good Suffolk provide free advice and support to help you make healthy changes
Social prescribing
If you want to meet people or join a group but don’t know where to start, a social prescriber can help. They’ll talk to you about what you enjoy and what support you need, then help you find the right local group or activity.
Connect for Health is a free, confidential service available to everyone over the age of 18. It is available to residents in Stowmarket, Debenham, Hadleigh and Ipswich. For residents in other areas, please ask your local doctor's surgery for information about social prescribing.
Contact Connect for Health and ask about Social Prescribing:
Email: c4h.suffolk@nhs.net
Call: 01394 332265
Request social prescribing support on the Shaw Trust website
Domestic abuse support
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone. Domestic abuse doesn't have to be physical and can include controlling, coercive, threatening, violent or abusive behaviour.
Help is available. There are services that can help you better understand what is happening to you and can:
- offer advice about how you can stay safe
- provide you with practical support
- help you to work through any decisions that you want to make
Scam awareness
It’s important to be cautious and always check whether something is a scam, especially if you are being asked for money.
View our advice to avoid scams
You can also find out more about staying safe online or get in person support to help you use the internet and digital devices safely through the Digital Help Finder tool.
Try the Suffolk Digital Help Finder tool
Scams are created to trick you into handing over money or personal details. Visit the Suffolk County Council website for more information or to report a scam.
What to do if you’re unsure about a message or letter you've received from us:
- Phone us to check: call our customer service team and ask them to confirm if the person who contacted you is an employee or if the letter or text was from us. Or visit a customer access point if you’d like to speak to us in person, our team always wear staff ID cards
- Look to see who sent the email: if we sent you an email, it would be from our official government address: @ baberghmidsuffolk .gov .uk
- Don’t give out your personal details if you’re unsure:
- Card payments: Our staff will never ask you to tell us your card details over the phone. If you need to make a card payment one of these council services, you’ll be transferred to our secure automated payment line
- Bank details: Occasionally, we may ask for bank details as part of applying for benefits, grants and financial support or to set up direct debits. If you’re unsure, phone us back to check