Yahoo News Exactly how Lancs council will spend £1.6m to help residents in need
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s public health boss has given details of how the authority will distribute its latest £1.619million allocation from the Household Support Fund to hard up residents. They are set out on a report by Cllr Damian Talbot to the authority’s executive board meeting on Thursday.
The money will be used across a range of areas, including towards utility bills, winter fuel payments and emergency white goods. It will also go towards support and advice services and support for subsidised school meals.
The report says the cash is from round six of the Household Support Fund (HSF), which was announced by the government in September. The six-month support package - totalling a further £1.619m for Blackburn with Darwen - runs until March 2025.
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The report adds: “The council has successfully delivered the HSF since October 2021 in partnership with a range of voluntary, community and faith sector organisations. The original objective of the fund was to provide support to vulnerable households in most need of support over the winter period.
“As the economy recovers, it has been recognised that further support is required to support communities as the cost-of-living crisis begins to impact further beyond recovery from the pandemic. It has been widely accepted that the HSF should consider those who may be impacted by the withdrawal of the Winter Support Payment for residents of pensionable age.
“The council has a demonstrable track record of developing and implementing welfare support schemes and the delivery of the previous 5 rounds of Household Support is an illustration of this. Households have been supported through a range of measures including, for example, support with bills, including council tax, provision of food and debt and welfare support as part of a wraparound service, advice, and guidance.
“The council has also successfully fully allocated all funds available from the five previous rounds. It will continue to focus on the most acute pressures faced by residents over the next six months."
The report says it is proposed to use the HSF in the following key areas:
Utility bills
Winter fuel payment
Crisis food
Emergency white goods
Support and advice services
Support for subsidised school meals – enabling schools to support low income/vulnerable families who do not qualify for free school meals
Council tax support, in the form of a credit in lieu of supporting other cost of living pressures
Support for the food alliance sustainable food hub model
Miscellaneous smaller grants to third sector partners
The report adds: "The delivery of round six will continue alongside other support including developing employability skills, debt, benefit and housing advice and mental health and wellbeing advice."
