Vulnerable residents on the Isle of Wight will not be left out in the cold this winter, thanks to a range of measures to help people with the costs of food, utilities and other essentials.
Using its latest round of Household Support Funding from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Isle of Wight Council will be investing more than £1.1 million in a wide variety of schemes and initiatives targeting households facing hardship.
These will be distributed between now and March 2023.
The initiatives will expand on what was offered in the previous funding rounds to include support for foster carers registered with the council, unpaid carers, care leavers, and people with disabilities.
It will also widen the support available to reach out to those who may not be eligible for other assistance but are nevertheless in need.
Cllr Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for children's services, said:
"We understand there are residents who are struggling but don’t qualify for other packages of support and are at risk of slipping through the net.
"I am pleased to approve these latest funding allocations, which recognise and respond to the needs of Island residents in this position."
The schemes will be delivered across the Island via the council's 'connect4communities programme' and will include:
- Food vouchers — available to eligible Island residents including foster carers, care leavers, gateway card holders, and some people who receive council tax support or housing benefit, among others. No need to apply.
- Discretionary grants to schools — these may be used to help families with costs relating to food and weather appropriate clothing. Parents can apply directly to their child’s school for the voucher.
- Funding to support the Living Well and Early Help Service mobile hub, providing hot meals and a warm space for residents in need.
- Funding to Citizens Advice to provide help with fuel and utility bills. The charity will also use the money to provide a single point of contact for Island residents in need.
- Grants for community and voluntary organisations, as well as town, parish and community councils, to help meet needs within their local communities.
- Funding to establish up to three new community pantries on the Island.
This latest instalment of Household Support Funding follows the previous funding round, which ran from April to September this year.
During this period, 33 charities and community associations used their community grant funding to support more than 14,000 households; one-off food vouchers were provided to more than 4,000 eligible households; and just under 300 households received help with their food and utility bills via Citizens Advice.
The funding also provided ongoing support to Island's network of community pantries, which now have more than 600 members collectively.
Pantries can apply to receive support via the newest round of Household Support Funding, to help them respond to increased food costs and provide wider support services for vulnerable pantry members.
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