Nottingham City Council has secured over £3.5million to support city residents struggling with the rising cost of living. Pensioners and families are set to benefit as the council take steps to help the most vulnerable households.
The council’s Executive Board on Thursday 28 April will consider the recommendation to formally accept the new funding and approve the next steps of the scheme, to develop proposals to allocate the funds.
The City Council has secured the funds from the Government’s Household Support Fund.
A third of the funding will be ring-fenced to support families with children, while another third will be dedicated to pensioners. This ensures the people who need it most will continue to receive vital support to meet essential household costs.
Working with community partners and welfare advice agencies, the council will determine how to best use the remainder of the fund within the scope set out by the Government.Councillors will be focused on getting the financial assistance to those Nottingham residents who need it most.
In previous funding rounds the grant has been used towards a package of vouchers for Nottingham residents who receive Council Tax Support. These have included e-vouchers for supermarkets, energy bills and pupils eligible for free school meals throughout the school holidays.
Cllr Sam Webster, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, said: “This funding will enable us to support Nottingham people who are struggling with the cost of living. With rising energy bills and increased prices at supermarkets, more and more people are struggling to pay bills and put food on the table.
“Securing this funding for city residents is another commitment to support Nottingham people through difficult times.
“I welcome the Household Support Fund but I know it provides only temporary and partial relief to people. The bigger issue is financial inequality in the UK. Cities like Nottingham need more sustainable investment to provide opportunities for people to lift themselves out of poverty and keep pace with the rising cost of living. We will continue to press the government strongly for more sustainable solutions to be found to tackle inequality whilst also demanding that Nottingham people get the financial assistance they desperately need during this crisis in the cost of living.”