Islanders who are most in need are being offered vouchers to help buy food as the cost of living crisis in the UK continues.
The new scheme will allow people to spend the one-off vouchers at one of the Island’s major supermarkets, or in one of the new community pantries.
A food voucher worth £125 is available to applicants in receipt of Local Council Tax Support, and Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. Those in receipt of Local Council Tax Support and benefits-related Free School Meals or Early Years Pupil Premium can apply for a £50 food voucher.
Meanwhile, all households in receipt of Local Council Tax Support with no children or pensioners can apply for a food voucher worth £25.
Financed by the £1.1million Household Support Fund, the voucher scheme forms part of a package of new supportive measures to help households with children, the elderly and other residents who are struggling financially.
Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for children’s services, said:
“It is a worrying time for many people as rising food costs combine with soaring petrol and diesel prices and the hike in gas and electricity costs. It has left many people fearing how they will make ends meet.
“If you are struggling with the cost of living crisis, there is a range of support available for you, so please act now.
Article continues below this advertisement “Vouchers do not provide a sustainable longer-term solution to poverty, but can help to ease immediate financial pressures.
“We have therefore, working with our community partners, set up additional council initiatives which include support with the costs of utility bills through Citizens Advice, help with exceptional housing costs through the council and a broad range of community projects across the Island.”
Full details including how to apply for a voucher are available on the connect4communities website, whilst application forms can be completed online with paper copies also available from many community outlets, including libraries and some schools. A full list is available on the website.
Queries regarding the voucher scheme should be directed to 01983 823950 or [email protected]
Yes, let’s help out all the benefit scroungers even more while struggling hard workers just have to suck it up.
so, council tax is due again today and when I pay it, I know that it will all immediately be handed to some sponge that could easily buy its own food, but spends the benefit money on booze/baccy/sky tv and mobile phones.
leeches
You pour scorn on Joe Sugg who, by anyone’s measure, has made a success of his life then you pour derision on those who are so poor they need help.
You, basically, just hate anyone who isn’t you, don’t you?
Every part of the Country has an embarrassment, who’s self opinionated views embarrass with their comments. You do not represent the Isle of Wight, you just embarrass it.
Kev and Cal, both get your heads out of the sand and have a look around you. Spongers get so much help and are not worse off. They’re the ones who choose not to work and also choose tattoos, cigs, weed, sky, and pets over feeding and clothing their offspring. Isle of wighter is not alone and is certainly not an embarrassment.
These 3rd generation of breeders and spongers are the worst yet. God help us when the 4th generation kick off.
Do not tar all with the same brush, there will always be a certain element you refer to, do yourselves a favour get that chip off you’re shoulder. NOT everyone in need is a sponger, who works the system to their advantage.
Your prejudice and hate is indeed shared by a number of people, you need to get your head out of the sand and realise NOT all in need are choosing not to work on drugs and living the high life at the expense of others, SOME ARE, NOT ALL. If you can’t see past that you are an embarrassment, just like the element you refer too.
you are paying for your hand wringing, do gooder, socialist pandering to these spongers/asylum seekers/economic immigrants and other leeches that turn up here, just to sponge off the state, because they can’t in their own country. I bet you are a claimant aren’t you kev, because if you weren’t you would object to the higher taxes you are paying, to support all these sad sacks and sponge cases.
As usual wrong on every count, and your usual hatred rant. You should rename yourself as ‘Isle of Wight Winger’ Change the record. Bye the way you start a sentence with a capital letter.
More than a hint of racism thrown in for good measure.
Have a good day.
My head is far from buried, I work in and around these rodents daily.
Something you probably have never done, instead you choose to believe what you read and hear in the media.
You are obviously the one being led by the blind.
My head is far from buried and my eyes are wide open to what these spongers are doing. I work in and around these people all the time and see for myself exactly what they’re up to. Where as you probably have never seen it for yourself but instead read, hear and believe what the media tells you.
You clearly are another one led by the blind.
I wouldn’t call pensioners or people who work and claim Local Council Tax Support benefit scroungers.
Neither would I, but as we all know, 99% of these vouchers will go to spongers who have never worked a day in their miserable lives. Oh, they can afford smart phones, fancy haircuts, booze, fags and tats, but they can’t afford to feed their kids.
I don’t need it but nothing for the people on below inflation minimum wage
Priority’s are perfect again!
But council then take triple away if on low income and working by raising car park charges ( if you rich and have an Evi car free) national insurance,vat, bus fares, council tax, etc etc.
The council get all of the freebies you wrote so they don’t give a hoot
Those that were just above the threshold around a year ago because they work, are now effectively worse off then most on benefits. It certainly doesn’t pay at present to be a nice decent working citizen
Any help for those who work for a living?