The Finance, Procurement and Transformation Committee this week agreed to distribute cash from the Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery (LACER) fund.
Support will be provided to families in four ways –
· Increasing the direct cash payment for Holiday Food Provision for pupils in receipt of free school meals to £20 per week;
· Providing a £350 direct cash payment to approximately 3,600 people who have received a Crisis Grant or Community Care Grant in the last 12 months;
· Providing a £350 direct cash payment to approximately 200 people who have experienced homelessness in the last 12 months;
· Providing a £350 direct cash payment to 500 people in financial difficulty who rely on the council’s CareCall Service;
Committee chairman Councillor Adam Wilson said: “Too many families across the region are already struggling with the cost of living crisis, and having to choose between putting on the heating and eating.
“These proposals put forward by a Labour-led council will see over £2m of support put in pockets of local families; helping to ease the cost of living crisis and supporting access for vulnerable residents to vital care call services.”