Fridges. Freezers. Washing machines. Grants. Food. Furniture. All real. All free. No loans needed.
A loan for a washing machine costs you hundreds more than the machine. Everything on this page is free or nearly free. Try this first. See why loans are a trap →
Fridge, freezer, washing machine — you can get these for free
If you're on Universal Credit, your council can give you a fridge, freezer or washing machine — free. It's called the Household Support Fund. Not a loan. Ask your council directly or through Citizens Advice.
Check if you qualify →Many food banks also give away white goods, small appliances, and household essentials. Call your nearest Trussell Trust food bank and ask what else they have. You might be surprised.
Find your food bank →BHF shops sell refurbished white goods at very low prices — sometimes £30-50. They collect and sell donated appliances. Search for your nearest BHF furniture and electrical shop.
Find BHF near you →Emmaus sell refurbished furniture and white goods for next to nothing — and everything funds support for homeless people. Genuinely cheap. Genuinely good.
Find Emmaus near you →Turn2us has a grants search tool that includes help for household essentials including appliances. Takes 5 minutes to search. Could find you money you didn't know existed.
Search grants →Got a broken washing machine? Repair Cafés are run by volunteers who fix appliances for free. Over 300 locations across the UK. Worth trying before you replace anything.
Find a Repair Café →Beds, sofas, tables — people give this away every day
Completely free. People give away sofas, beds, wardrobes, everything. Join your local group. Check daily. Move fast when something comes up — good stuff goes in hours.
Join Freecycle →Same idea as Freecycle, different community. Both worth joining. Freegle tends to have more active UK groups. Free to use, free to take.
Join Freegle →Neighbours give away furniture, household items, food — all free. Download the app, set your location, browse what's near you. No cost, no catch.
Get OLIO →Local furniture charities collect donated furniture and give or sell it cheaply to people who need it most — especially people setting up a new home. Search "furniture charity [your town]."
Find a furniture charity →Filter to FREE only. People give away decent furniture constantly — moving house, clearing out, upgrading. Check the free section daily in your area.
Browse free stuff →Several St John's and similar Christian charities provide beds and bedding to families in need for free. Ask at Citizens Advice or your local food bank who operates locally.
Find Citizens Advice →Money you don't pay back. Most people don't know these exist.
Your local council has a pot of government money to give to people struggling. Food vouchers, utility bills, white goods. On UC or low income = likely eligible. Ring your council and ask directly.
GOV.UK — find your council →The best grants finder in the UK. Searches thousands of charities and trusts that give money to people in need — for bills, essentials, emergencies. Takes 5 minutes.
Search your grants →Up to £150 off your electricity bill if you're on certain benefits. Automatic for some — others need to apply. Check with your energy supplier now.
Check eligibility →Every water company in the UK has a social tariff for low income households — some cut bills by 50-90%. Called WaterSure or similar. Ring your water company and ask.
Find out more →Just started Universal Credit? You can get an advance on your first payment immediately — you don't have to wait 5 weeks. Ask your work coach or call UC on 0800 328 5644.
How to claim →If you're employed, your employer legally can give you a salary advance or interest-free loan. Many do. Just ask HR — it's more common than you think. No interest. No credit check.
More emergency tips →Copy this. Say this. It works.
"Hi, I'm calling about the Household Support Fund. I'm on Universal Credit and I'm struggling to afford [food / a fridge / heating bills]. I'd like to find out if I'm eligible for any support. Who do I need to speak to?"
No referral needed for some of these
Over 1,300 Trussell Trust food banks across the UK. You need a referral — GP, Citizens Advice, or JobCentre can issue one. 3 days of emergency food.
Find yours →Free food in a shared fridge — no referral, just walk up and take what you need. 300+ across the UK. Stocked with surplus food daily.
Find a community fridge →Grab a surprise bag from restaurants and supermarkets for £2-5. Real food, not scraps. Saves waste, saves you money.
Download the app →Neighbours share food they can't use. Free. Nearby. Takes 2 minutes to set up.
Get OLIO →Free hot meals at Salvation Army centres across the UK. No referral needed at most. Just walk in.
Find your local →Free warm places with drinks, food, and company. Libraries, community centres, churches. Open to anyone.
Find a warm space →Most towns have hidden help — you just need to know where to look
One visit to Citizens Advice can unlock multiple types of help at once — food bank referrals, fuel vouchers, benefit checks, grants. Free. Confidential. No judgement.
Find your CAB →Since COVID, thousands of mutual aid groups formed across the UK. Many still run. Search "[your town] mutual aid" on Facebook — you'll often find people giving stuff away for free.
Search Facebook groups →Many churches run food banks, clothing banks, emergency funds, and hardship grants — open to everyone regardless of faith. Just call and ask what they offer.
Find churches near you →The Charity Commission has a searchable database of all UK charities. Search your town or postcode to find local ones you didn't know existed.
Search local charities →If you have kids, The Children's Society and similar organisations can provide emergency grants, household items, and targeted support.
Get family help →Struggling to feed your pet? Pet food banks exist across the UK. PDSA also provides vet care for free if you're on qualifying benefits — your pet doesn't have to suffer.
PDSA free vet care →