PEOPLE across Worcestershire who would otherwise struggle with bills and paying for essentials such as food will be able to apply for financial support now that the Household Support Fund will continue to next year.
Funded by the UK government, the assistance will run until March, 2026 through a range of different schemes.
In Worcestershire, £6.95million of funding has been used to extend energy support delivered by Act on Energy.
This provides assistance with the cost of household energy, energy bill debt and new heating systems for eligible households.
Food voucher support during school holidays will continue until the end of the summer holidays, to help those families in receipt of free school meals.
One-off funding is available in cash vouchers for new pension credit recipients.
Other pensioners, carers or people with a disability on a low income will be able to access cash vouchers and support through the Worcestershire Advice Network, led by Age UK Wyvern.
Also available will be an additional one-off voucher for low-income households with high-energy-use medical devices..
And there will also be additional activity focused on longer-term preventative advice and support to make more lasting change for residents.
District councils have been allocated around a quarter of the overall funding and are being supporting a range of other measures in local communities.
Hannah Perrott, assistant director for communities and provider services at Worcestershire County Council, said: “We welcome the government announcement of the extension of the Household Support Fund and the move towards a more preventative approach.
“We will continue to work closely with our district councils and voluntary sector partners to provide support to those most in need.”
Visit: worcestershire.gov.uk/householdsupportfund for more information on the support available across Worcestershire and how to apply.
And go to worcestershire.gov.uk/cost-living-support for wider cost-of-living information.
