WYRE FOREST District Council has provided grants to support the cost of running warm spaces across the region.
Voluntary groups and community organisations providing the spaces also offer activities and hot drinks.
The warm spaces scheme is just part of the Council’s Cost of Living Action Plan funding has come from the Government’s Household Support Fund.
Over the past year the Council has provided financial assistance to households including Discretionary Housing Payments, Council Tax Reduction Scheme, Housing Benefit, Welfare Assistance to help with food, utilities and furniture and help with rent bonds/deposits.
As well as giving grants and loans to improve the energy efficiency of homes and run schemes funded by the Household Support Fund from the Department of Work and Pensions.
The fund is available to help families with children, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers, and people with disabilities who would otherwise struggle with the costs of essentials.
At a meeting of council’s cabinet on December 18, an updated cost of living action plan looks set to be agreed.
Councillor Chris Rogers, cabinet member with responsibility for housing, health and wellbeing said: “We know that the cost of living is continuing to affect many households in the district.
“You just have to look at the figures for the Kidderminster Foodbank.
“In 2017/18 they distributed almost 3,000 food parcels, last year this had jumped to just over 8,000 in the year.
“Wyre Forest Food Bank also has a constant stream of referrals. In 2022, 18 per cent of the district’s household was in fuel poverty.”
Coun Chris added that the council have been working with partners and holding cost of living summits.
Visit: wyreforestdc.gov.uk/warmspaces for a full list of warm spaces across the district.