Kirklees Council will receive
just over £3.7m of government funding to support the district’s most vulnerable
residents.
This funding will be used to
support households in Kirklees who are most struggling with payments for food,
energy and water bills.
The new Household Support Fund
was announced by the government on 6 October. It coincides with the end
of several government schemes set up specifically to support households through
the pandemic and lockdowns, and will be a key resource to help bridge the gap
for vulnerable households still struggling with key necessities. This
funding will initially run until March 2022.
The support provided will not
be focused on helping one specific vulnerable group or community – instead, the
council will evaluate individual cases holistically to identify those most in
need.
The way this funding will be
used is still being scoped by Kirklees Council, but initial decisions include
additional support for families who are entitled to means-tested Free Schools
Meals in the upcoming October half-term holiday. These households will
receive £15 per child towards food, and an additional £10 per child to support
with fuel costs. This will benefit more than 15,000 children across
Kirklees.
Kirklees Council are also
scoping ways to use this funding to support vulnerable tenants with their
housing costs, as well as further ways to help residents with food, fuel and
essential white goods. Further announcements will be made over the coming
weeks.
The funding will be available
through existing support channels – primarily the council’s Local
Welfare Provision service. The council works closely with many
partners across Kirklees who will also be able to provide referrals and
signposting for this support.
Councillor Shabir
Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council, says:
“Supporting our most vulnerable
residents is Kirklees Council’s top priority. Over the last few years,
we’ve seen the pandemic have the worst impact on our poorest households who
were already struggling. Now that our country is in recovery, we’re still
seeing these repercussions.
“Through our range of support
services and partners, we’re also keenly aware that there are often a wide
array of factors impacting Kirklees’ most vulnerable households. It’s
important that we handle every case individually and holistically, to make sure
we’re providing maximum help and support to those most in need.
“As we’ve just set out in Our
Council Plan, our ambition is to create a place where every single person has
the same opportunities to fulfil their potential and no-one is left behind.”
Councillor Carole
Pattison, Cabinet Member for Learning, Aspiration and Communities, says:
“This funding presents a great
opportunity to provide support for those most in need, first and foremost
children and families who are struggling.
“This funding will benefit more
than 15,000 children across Kirklees. It will help families facing
hardship provide food and comfort to children in their own home, which will
make a huge difference to their health and wellbeing.”
