A PACKAGE of measures to relieve the financial burden on Warwickshire residents struggling with the rising cost of living has been agreed by council chiefs.
The government recently introduced a support package to help with a whole host of factors which have left households struggling, including rising energy bills and increasing inflation. And Warwickshire County Council (WCC) has announced additional local measures to provide further help to residents and local businesses.
WCC support includes:
– Allocation of the government-funded Household Support Fund via the Local Welfare Scheme, which provides £3.47m support for the most vulnerable residents
– Creation of an online Cost of Living Hub, a website offering practical and financial advice from county, district and borough councils and other partners
– Accelerating the laptop lending programme, as part of digital inclusion work
– Establishing and extending partnerships with supermarkets and mobile apps that sell unwanted supermarket stock
– Promotion of existing spaces, such as libraries and museums, as warm spaces
– Increasing the scope of the countywide partnership working to improve access to financial support for people in need
– Expanding criteria for the Warwickshire Recovery and Investment Fund to allow for investments in business activities that reduce energy use
– A communications campaign to promote available support
While up to £1 million of additional WCC funding has been proposed, which would go towards additional initiatives, such as the creation of a network of warm spaces, extension and support for community supermarkets and food banks, and providing more activities in libraries.
These measures are in addition to the support already available. More information can be found on the Warwickshire Cost of Living pages.
Coun Heather Timms, WCC spokesperson for environment, climate and culture, said: “We know that Warwickshire residents are already feeling the strain of the increased costs of living. It is important that we act quickly to get support out to those who need it as soon as possible, particularly those who are most in need.
“Our response builds on the national offer and makes use of the existing resources, networks and partnerships that we have. The challenge is significant, but we have fantastic partners and great communities in Warwickshire, and we can work together to tackle it.”
