Islanders who are struggling to afford food and fuel will get extra help over the Spring and Summer months thanks to the ‘connect4communities’ programme — led by the Isle of Wight Council.
Financed by the £1.1million Household Support Fund, awarded to the authority by the Department for Work and Pensions, the new measures target households in greatest need with utility costs, food and water bills.
Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for children’s services, has said:
“The rising cost of living is a challenge for most people, but it is especially difficult for low-income pensioners, as well as families with children who might be struggling with food and utility bills.
“The council is using the Household Support Fund to support vulnerable Islanders, especially with the cost of food and energy bills. We have used the funding to develop a suite of targeted, supportive measures that aim to help households with children, the elderly and other vulnerable residents who are struggling financially.”
The programme includes:
- food vouchers for residents receiving Local Council Tax Support;
- funding to expand and support community pantries on the Island;
- support via Citizens Advice for residents struggling to meet the cost of their food and utility bills;
- a new community grants scheme to support community groups with food and fuel initiatives;
- emergency housing support.
Food vouchers
A voucher scheme will be available to vulnerable households which will provide a one-off £125 food voucher for residents eligible for Local Council Tax Support and Pension Credit Guaranteed Credit, a one-off £50 food voucher per household eligible for Local Council Tax Support and benefits-related Free School Meals or Early Years’ Pupil Premium and a one-off £25 food voucher for residents eligible for Local Council Tax Support where there are no children or pensioners living at the property.
The vouchers will be available via an application process, details of which will be announced in due course.
Support for food and utility costs
Citizens Advice will use the funding to provide food vouchers as well as direct financial support to households with fuel bills that do not meet the eligibility criteria for the food voucher scheme.
It is anticipated that more than 600 households will benefit from this funding.
Households wanting advice about support available with household bills, can contact the existing Help Through Crisis Helpline: (01983) 823859.
Community pantries
Funding will be used to set up two new community pantries in areas of need. Additional funding will also be used to support the three existing pantries at East Cowes, Ventnor and Ryde.
Community pantries work on the principle of giving those in need the opportunity to have a ‘helping hand’ by getting food at a lower rate on a weekly basis. Items found in the pantry will be a range of fresh, frozen, and general foods which will change on a weekly basis.
Community grants
Local community groups will be encouraged to apply for grants that will help support those most in need in their communities with food and fuel initiatives. Further information will shortly be announced on how groups can apply for funding.
For further advice and support, visit the connect4communities website or call the Citizens Advice line on 0800 144 88 48.
But if you work – then you get nothing.
Thanks to this government we have more food banks now than ever before. How did we ever manage previously……oh yes I remember, people weren’t so poor. And now poverty comes with a discount grant for food and bills. It’s cheaper to be poor….. I think.
Praise be to Boris and half a sausage Bob.
In a proper, fair “democratic” society none of this should be needed. But as we know ace partygoer and his cronies, and our very own BBQ Bob, they just don’t care about the people they are supposed to represent.
Other support available…
job centre
training schemes to learn new skills for new careers.
online job sites.
once again, the government is handing out taxpayers cash to those who chose the benefits route.
once the stagflation really gets going, then there won’t be the help available as too many will be unemployed on top of all the spongers and leeches. Those that have lived off benefits for years are going to find out what “going without” really means soon and about time too.
I agree with you but there are also some that can’t help but be on benefits due to health issues and other problems please don’t tarnish everyone on benefits under the same brush
Willing to bet the people lining up for this support all have the latest phones with data packages, sky tv, can eat out at mcdonalds twice a week etc
As there is no discrimination in our country everyone will get the same benefits if circumstances are equal.
So either all can’t manage or no one should need extra UNLESS they are greedy selfish wasters