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Help in a Crisis

A crisis can occur for lots of different reasons – benefit delays, losing a job, an unexpected bill or gradually things getting more difficult until no longer you feel you can cope. If you don’t have enough money to feed, clothe or keep warm there is help available. There is no need to struggle alone.

To find out more about local support services available, including emergency helplines and foodbanks, please see our Making Money Count website. You may be able to get support from the Cambridgeshire Local Assistant Scheme (CLAS), which CHS co-ordinates through local partners. CLAS can provide information, advice and one off practical support and assistance in times of exceptional pressure. Following an assessment, you may be eligible for a CLAS award which could be in the form of new white goods, new beds and mattresses, recycled furniture, reconditioned white goods and supermarket vouchers.

To read what our clients say about the support we offer click here View our CLAS Annual Service Report 2022-23

To be eligible for the CLAS you must be 16 years or over and:

Have lived in Cambridgeshire for at least six months (unless you’ve fled to the area for your own safety)
Have no savings
Be on a means tested benefit e.g. income support, income based job seekers allowance (JSA), income related employment and support allowance (ESA), pension credit, universal credit
If you are working, your total household income must be below the HMRC low income threshold (£19,980 for 2024/25)
Must be facing financial difficulties and hardship

CHS is accredited with the matrix Standard for its money and employment advice services. The matrix Standard is a unique quality standard for organisations to assess and measure their advice and support services, which ultimately supports individuals in their choice of career, learning, work and life goals.

Help Available Within Cambridgeshire

If you have lived in Cambridgeshire for at least six months the Cambridgeshire Local Assistance Scheme CLAS may be able to help

What People Say…

“Such a good service to people who are struggling and need help, lovely people. I don’t know how I would have managed without you”

CLAS recipient

“Truly appreciate the rapid response and support from your service”

CLAS recipient

“Very grateful and very happy there is such a service in place to help out. It helps to know you are not alone and you have the community with you every step of the way.”

CLAS recipient

“This service has really come to me at a time when I was in serious need of help especially with food, not at work due to ill health, service has been a lifeline & that is more than I can imagine, thank you ever so much.”

CLAS recipient

“Just very grateful trying to put food on the table is a must I have diabetes so need to eat didn’t know there was anything like this – my money matters lady told me. Thank you”

CLAS recipient

“I cannot put into words how thankful I am with the CLAS. People were understanding, polite, so helpful and patient with me. So thank you from the bottom of my heart”

CLAS recipient

“I am so pleased , I did not know we could get things like this, thank all very much”

CLAS recipient

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