New funding to help vulnerable families pay bills this winter

The Council has received £2.9m from the Government’s Household Support Fund to provide essential support to our most vulnerable residents.

The Council is also providing support through an additional £500k Winter Poverty Fund and is doing everything it can to support our residents who are currently struggling to get by.

This vital cash support is available to help residents with essentials including food, energy and water bills. 

We have ring-fenced over 50% of the fund to support families with children which will be distributed via schools and academies for households with children in receipt of Free School Meals.

The remaining funds will be available to other households in need of support, who will be able to access it through some of our community sector organisations including Welcome Network CWVA (Cheshire West Voluntary Action), Citizen Advice Bureau, Age UK Cheshire, Dial Network, Carers Trust, CHAWREC (Cheshire, Halton and Warrington race & equality centre) and WHAG (Women’s Housing Action Group).

This joined up approached reinforces the sector wide commitment to the recently launched Cheshire west Compact. These partner organisations undertake critical work throughout the borough and are best placed to ensure the funding is available to as many residents as possible.

For those who have children receiving free school meals, access to funding will be through schools. Other residents who need support can contact the organisations directly.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Poverty and Wellbeing, said: “It is important that the right people end up receiving this money so that they can pay their essential bills this winter. More than half of the fund will go to families receiving Free School Meals.

“We will use information from our partner agencies, along with feedback from the Poverty Truth Advisory Board, to ensure that the remaining funding and the Winter Poverty Fund helps others who need it to get through winter.”

Pictured - Councillor Louise Gittins.