Additional funding has been awarded to the Isle of Wight Council to help households weather the rising costs of living, to help pay for food, energy and other essential items.
This is the fourth tranche of the government's Household Support Fund (HSF) that the authority has received.
The latest grant amounts to almost £2.3 million, to cover the period from April 2023 until March 2024. It will take the Island's total level of HSF funding to more than £5.6 million.
The funding is to support households in most need that are struggling to pay for food, utility bills and other related essentials And specifically, those households that may not be eligible for other support that is already available from the government.
The schemes will be delivered across the Island via the council's 'connect4communities programme' and will include:
- Food vouchers — These will be automatically issued to up to 12,100 eligible households, including young carers, care leavers and children in need.
- Discretionary grants to schools — These may be used to help families with costs relating to food and weather appropriate clothing, bedding or other essentials.
- Funding to Citizens Advice to provide help with fuel bills, a telephone signposting service to the connect4communities programme, an outreach support and advice service in Foodbank Cafes and Community Pantries and energy efficient white goods where the need is identified.
- Funding to the Footprint Trust to provide advice to households on reducing energy costs, and for the provision of energy efficient white goods across the Island, as well as items such as hot water tank insulation and draught excluders.
- A grant pot of £170,000 to be used to expand and support the network of community pantries across the Island, including a delivery service for residents unable to visit a pantry.
- Funding to the Isle of Wight Foodbank for the purchase of food, energy efficient kitchen appliances and assisting with the set-up of a community garden to grow fresh vegetables.
- Community grants for charities, community organisations and town, parish and community councils to help meet needs within their local communities.
- Funding to commission third party organisations to provide support and advice on budgeting, finances, maximising income as well as accessing other help.
- Grant funding to IW Carers to support 200 unpaid carers with clothing, travel, medical equipment and kitchen appliances.
- Grant funding to Age UK.
This latest instalment of HSF follows the previous funding round from the Department for Work and Pensions, which ran from October 2022 to March 2023.
During this time, 30 charities and community organisations used their community grant funding, alongside direct support from several council departments, to support more than 14,000 households.
This included one-off food vouchers provided to more than 10,000 eligible households; and just under 400 households received help with their food and utility bills via Citizens Advice.
Cllr Ian Stephens, Cabinet member for poverty, said:
"I am pleased we can continue to support residents that are in financial hardship.
"Our commitment to protecting our most vulnerable residents is unwavering and I'm proud of the help we've been able to provide through this funding."
Anyone who is unsure if they can access support can find out by emailing [email protected]
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