Central Bedfordshire council outlines support for vulnerable homes this winter
Central Bedfordshire Council has outlined how it will allocate £1.4m of Government funding to support vulnerable households this winter
Last updated 17th Dec 2021
In September the Government announced its new £500m Household Support Fund that was designed to support those most in need this winter. Central Bedfordshire Council was awarded £1,483,073 to support residents with food, energy and water bills and other essentials over the winter period.
Some of the funding has already been distributed to households. During October half term, a £15 supermarket voucher was provided to every child eligible for free school meals to support with food costs. In total, 6,257 supermarket vouchers were distributed to families in Central Bedfordshire, worth almost £94,000. Support for these families will continue over the Christmas holidays and February half term.
The Council has now announced who is eligible to receive support from the Household Support Fund this winter and how this will be distributed. As well as children entitled to free school meals, those eligible for support include:
• Children eligible for 2-year-old funding/Early Years Pupil Premium
• Children or young people attending Shuttleworth College who are eligible for free school meals
• Care leavers (young adults aged between 18 and 25 years old that have previously spent time in care before they were 18 years old)
• Residents of Council-managed caravan sites or permanent, legally licensed residential park homes
• Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) claimants
The full list of who is eligible for support this winter is available on the Council’s website.
Cllr Richard Wenham, Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has been a tough time for many families, and I am pleased we are able to continue to support our most vulnerable households as the country recovers. We have already been able to offer support during the October half term, and this will continue over the Christmas holidays and for most households into the February half term as well."