READING Borough Council has released a “comprehensive” package of cost of living support as well as advice services for residents.
Applications are now open for the latest set of support schemes, including help with housing payment and crisis-related support.
A number of services are now available across Reading aimed at getting advice and help to those struggling with a range of issues, or even those just looking to make the most of their money amid rising costs.
For families, earlier this year the Council opened four new Family Hubs across Reading, including in Whitley, Ranikhet, Sun Street, and Southcote.
Each offers a wide range of information, advice, support and activities all under one roof for families, children, and young people.
They aim to support residents from pregnancy, through the teenage years, and into early adulthood, with service timetables including a range of topics such as emotional support for new parents, young people’s wellbeing, housing advice, help with speech and language, stay and play for children under five, and more.
These four hubs are additional to four existing community centres, Whitley Wood, Hexham Road, Coley Park, and Lyndhurst.
Reading Borough Council has also signposted a number of services in the town’s voluntary and community sector.
Through its Closing the Gap initiative, the Council already provides £1.4 million of financial support to the sector, including £274,000 a year for Cost of Living and Debt Advice services from Citizens Advice Reading where residents can find out what support is available to them and advice on the best way to access it.
A report to June’s Policy Committee lays out proposals of how some of the funding made available through the Government’s Crisis Resilience Fund (CRF) will be used in Reading.
These include investment in more food pantries, a community banking scheme as an alternative to high interest loans, and additional support for low-income pensioners and victims of domestic abuse.
The committee report is set to be discussed later today (Monday, June 15).
The Government’s CRF scheme replaces the previous Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payment schemes.
Reading Borough Council will receive more than £2,335,000 in CRF funding this year, and proposes to use it to bring positive and sustained change to the financial health of residents, many of whom face ongoing financial challenges because of their specific circumstances.
It comes after governmental guidelines required a move away from a blank voucher system for local authority support, aiming to create a more targeted approach to helping residents.
Councillor Liz Terry, Reading Borough Council Leader, said: “Higher living costs affect all of us, but for families and households who struggle financially the consequences can be serious which is why the council’s priority is to ensure residents know about all the help and support which is available to them this year.
“That support can take the form of direct financial help through the Council’s Crisis Payment or Housing Payment schemes which residents can now apply for online, making full use of our four brand new Family Hubs in Whitley, Ranikhet, Sun Street and Southcote, which include a wealth of advice, support and activities for parents and young children, in addition to the help and support on hand at our existing Community Centres at Whitley Wood, Hexham Road, Coley Park and Lyndhurst.
She explained: “The council also makes full use of the town’s incredible community and voluntary sector by additionally funding a wide variety of local initiatives, as well as funding Citizens Advice Reading to help residents access the support available to them.
“As part of the Government’s new CRF scheme we are proposing to increase the number of food pantries out in our communities, as well as new local initiatives such as community banking schemes, and help for low-income pensioners or victims of domestic abuse.
“There is a comprehensive package of support in Reading for families and households who may be struggling to make ends meet and the council is determined to do all it can to ensure residents know about and take advantage of the help on offer.”
Full details on the council’s support offerings, including how to get help, are available via: reading.gov.uk/money-matters
Applications for both the Housing Payment and Crisis Payment schemes can now be made in person within the Civic Offices in Bridge Street, or online via: reading.gov.uk/CRF
