Bucks Council have allocated a further £2.4 million of funding from the Government’s Household Support Fund, to help residents struggling to pay bills and buy food.
Residents facing severe financial hardship can contact the council’s Helping Hand service which can:
- help with energy, cooking, lighting and water bills
- support with food costs through vouchers
- pay for household essentials such as sanitary products, boiler servicing, warm clothing costs
£880,000 of the funding has been allocated to provide food vouchers to families in need, including covering children’s meals during school holidays if they are eligible for free school meals during term time. These digital food vouchers will also be available for Afghan and Ukrainian families who’ve arrived in Buckinghamshire as a package of wider support for these families under Helping Hand.
Buckinghamshire Council Leader Martin Tett said:
“We are facing significant rises in the cost of living and this is impacting everyone. For some people, it means a real struggle to buy food, clothing or other essentials. As a council, we want to do as much as we can to help those most in need, alongside offering extra support more universally too. So I hope today’s agreed package of measures alongside our other schemes do just that, and ultimately help as many Buckinghamshire residents as we can.
We are working closely with a number of local organisations to ensure support is there for all who need it, from general financial advice, to those who sadly have been pushed into severe hardship. We know people need different levels of help at the moment, that we’re all feeling the pinch and our aim is to help as many Buckinghamshire households as possible who are experiencing varying amounts of financial pressure.”
For the full breakdown of how the Council is allocating the Household Support Fund, go to: https://buckinghamshire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s42765/Government%20funding%20supporting%20Buckinghamshire%20Residents%202022-05-10%20v1.3%20-%20Cabinet.pdf
Or for Helping Hand queries call 01296 531 151 – this line operates Mon – Thu 9am – 5:30pm and Fri 9am – 5pm.
You can also use the online contact form on the Helping Hand webpage: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/helping-hand.
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