READING Borough Council has laid out a slew of extra support for households in the borough ahead of the winter.
Those struggling with everyday essentials are set to see extra support with the allocation of government funding, councillors have announced.
It comes after Reading was awarded a grant of nearly £2 million as part of the national Household Support Fund scheme.
The second half of the scheme this year will see another round of payments, with a £150 payment available to residents with successful applications this winter.
This represents a £50 increase over the first round of applications, and the scheme will also see extra funding awarded to organisations in the town’s voluntary and community sector.
This means Increasing money to previously funded groups which deliver a range of food support activities, including food banks, food pantries, food-surplus, and immediate hot meals.
It will also see additional service commissioned from Reading Welfare Rights to enhance the provision of complex welfare benefits advice and advocacy to residents.
The council is also set to double the funding for over 50s’ activities and warm spaces, as well as providing additional funding to its own Money Advice Team.
The service provides support for households in financial difficulties, particularly in relation to any rent or council tax arrears.
Reading Council has designed a local HSF scheme to ensure the money reaches residents who need it most.
This includes residents who may have difficulty paying for things like rising energy and water bills, food shopping, the high cost of housing or essentials like clothing.
It follows more than 3,100 cost of living vouchers of £125 issued and cashed by Pupil Premium Free School Meals households and over 200 cost of living vouchers distributed to care leavers.
It also follows £70,000 of extra funding provided to local voluntary and community sector organisations for cost of living support for low-income residents, and £35,000 awarded to provide school uniforms and warm clothes for children.
Councillor Liz Terry, Reading Borough Council Leader, said: “Reading’s updated Household Support Fund scheme will have a particular focus on ensuring residents are getting the right advice to help them maximise their income this winter, and ensuring that where there are issues the Council intervenes at an early stage to provide the necessary guidance.
“As well as increasing payments for the second round of cost of living applications, which opens in November, the Council is also directing additional funding to groups who deliver local food banks and organisations who provide activities and warm places for over 50’s
“We want to ensure the Government’s Household Support Fund reaches those residents and communities who require our support this winter and believe our local scheme will make a difference to households in Reading.”
