London councils turn to crowdfunding to see most deprived residents through the pandemic

A London borough has started a crowdfunding campaign to help disadvantaged children as figures released today show demand for emergency financial support from town halls has tripled during the pandemic.

Umbrella group London Councils has revealed boroughs received 23,398 applications for local welfare assistance between March and June 2020. Last year the figure was 8,005.

Most requests came from families for small one-off payments for essentials such as gas and electric bills or for travel expenses for vulnerable individuals returning home from hospital.

Collectively London councils paid out almost £2.3million compared to £857,500 the year before.

Camden council has launched its first ever online crowdfunding campaign to raise £50,000 to buy laptops for disadvantaged students who miss lessons during the pandemic because it cannot stretch its budget to cover the cost.

Last term more than 3,000 Camden pupils went without access to a computer at home and many of these children would be denied access to online learning if they are sent home because of coronavirus cases in their school.

Camden’s Georgia Gould said: “Spending and a loss of income has opened up a ‘Covid deficit’ for us of £32.5million. We need Government funding if the inequalities Covid-19 has ruthlessly exposed are not to grow wider and to address the continuing public health and growing jobs crisis. There is a critical need for more business support for the areas facing the higher levels of restrictions.

“We have already provided schools with used council laptops, bought emergency kit and Wifi routers and our local businesses have donated spare equipment. But this is a critical moment and we have further to go – which is why we have launched a Crowdfunder, and are appealing to our communities and residents, to help ensure all our children have the equipment they need.”

Local authority leaders warned further tier restrictions or a second lockdown would lead to an unprecedented spike in welfare support claims in the capital.

Brent leader and London Councils’ executive member for welfare Muhammed Butt said: “The crisis has brought severe financial hardship to many Londoners and an enormous surge in people approaching their local borough for help.

“A second wave of the virus means that economic pressures are bound to get worse. London boroughs will continue helping our residents as best we can. Even a modest amount of financial aid provided by a council can help a resident avoid spiralling debts, homelessness, and other situations likely to lead to larger costs to the public purse.”

The government abolished its £178 million annual funding for local welfare assistance in 2015 and councils have been in charge of the schemes ever since.

Mr Butt added: “We urgently need the Government to improve universal credit and to restore councils’ funding for local welfare assistance. These measures are crucial for helping struggling Londoners.”

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