Council welcomes new £2.4m funding boost to support struggling households
Buckinghamshire Council has welcomed the news that it will continue to receive Government funding until March 2025.
The funding will help support households and residents in Buckinghamshire who are struggling with cost of living pressures.
The funding has been allocated through the Government’s Household Support Fund and enables local authorities to use the money to directly support low-income households and those experiencing financial hardship with energy costs, food costs, and other household essentials.
Speaking about the announcement, Arif Hussain, Buckinghamshire Council's Cabinet Member for Communities, said:
“This is excellent news that we have confirmation that we will receive £2.4m of the Household Support Fund to provide support for Buckinghamshire residents who are struggling with cost of living pressures. Previously, this fund has enabled us to provide a wide range of direct support and assistance for residents who are most in need. This further funding will allow us to continue to develop and deliver this support where it is most needed, including for pensioners who won’t receive the winter fuel payment this year.
“Between April and September 2024, examples of support we have been able to offer include: the issuing of more than 30,000 digital food vouchers to around 15,000 young people during May half-term and the summer holidays; providing funding to support six food banks across Buckinghamshire; and supporting over 1,300 residents who contacted our Helping Hand service directly.
“Alongside the Household Support Fund, we continue to deliver our Opportunity Bucks programme, working collaboratively with partners, the voluntary and community sector and local stakeholders to focus on the 10 wards in the county where residents are experiencing the most hardship.
“We’re also concerned that a number of eligible pensioners in Bucks are not currently claiming pension credit, so will miss out on a winter fuel payment when they are eligible and in genuine need. Please check if you or someone you know is eligible by going to: www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility For anyone who isn’t eligible for pension credit, remember you can contact our Helping Hand team to discuss other potential support.”
The Household Support Fund is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions and has been used in Buckinghamshire to support residents via the Council’s Helping Hand service, which processes applications for financial help. The money has also been used to support local organisations including charities and other schemes to target priority groups who are struggling the most.