£2.6 million grant for vulnerable households in Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
The grant will help locals with food, energy and water bills this winter
Vulnerable households across Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole are to receive a £2.6m grant to spend on food, energy and water bills this winter.
Councillors approved plans to allocate and enable access to funding for the following:
- Establish a flexible food voucher scheme to provide food support through the holiday periods
- Approve the allocation of £90,000 for the provision of school uniforms, coats and shoes
- Approve the allocation of £270,000 funding to Citizen’s Advice BCP to provide advice and support to residents with utility bills and ‘winter warmth’ costs
- Approve the allocation of £80,000 funding to the Dorset Community Foundation
- Approve the allocation of £60,000 to support the increased demand on community food provision (food banks etc.) through the Access to Food Partnership
Councillor Nicola Greene said: "With the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and increase in food and fuel bills we know that many people will be really struggling and experiencing financial hardship this winter.
"We will be working closely with our partners including schools and Citizen’s Advice BCP to ensure those households that are most in need can access help."
Some funding has already been released to ensure eligible families with children and young people can access flexible food vouchers during the October half-term.
The BCP Council said ways to access help through the Household Support Fund will be widely publicised as soon as possible.