Sefton Council will be using over £2.4 million from the national Household Support Fund (HSF) to support people across the Borough this winter.

Recently, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall, announced that between October and the end of March, the Government is providing a further £421 million nationally through the HSF. Sefton Council will receive £2,435,111 in total.

Holiday food vouchers

The Council is planning on using £80,000 to fund holiday food vouchers for pupils entitled to free school meals as well as making £30,000 available to local foodbanks. ASDA vouchers worth £20,000 will also be available through Family Hubs.

Through its Affordable Warmth Team, the Council will provide £65,000 for residents needing boiler replacement, draught proofing and other measures and there will be £50,000 to provide meter top up vouchers through Energy Project Plus.

Pyjamas & dressing gowns

Also, £10,000 will be made available for people needing winter pyjamas & dressing gowns through Family Wellbeing Centres and there will be £75,000 for the CVS Winter Clothing project. And there will be £50,000 available to the Leaving Care Team to support young people leaving care and transitioning into adulthood.

The £1.21 million remaining after the Council’s small £125,000 cost to manage the scheme, will be available through the Open Access Applications Scheme to help households on low incomes pay for essentials such as energy, food, and household bills.

Vital schemes

Cllr Liz Dowd, Sefton Council’s Cabinet member for Communities and Partnership said: “I am pleased that recognising the cost of living crisis that it has inherited, the Government has extended the Household Support Fund and is making over £2.4 million more available to Sefton so that we can support local people this winter.

“We will, once again, be using some of the Fund to support our own and our partners’ vital schemes to ensure vulnerable people have the food, warm clothing and support they need with heating over the coming months as well as opening the Open Access scheme for applications soon.”

During the previous round of the Open Access scheme, Sefton Council received 5,400 applications and allocated over £900,000 top help local people. The Council will be publishing details of how people can apply when the scheme opens soon.

Advice and support

Cllr Dowd added: “The Household Support Fund will re-open soon but in the meantime I would urge anyone who is struggling financially to visit www.sefton.gov.uk/cost-of-living where there are links to a range of advice and support, including debt advice, or to get in touch with the Council’s Contact Centre on 0345 140 0845.

“For people who do not have easy access to the Internet and smart phones, free computers, Internet and Wi-Fi access are provided at local Sefton libraries.”

Sefton’s network of Warm Spaces at around 40 locations, which has also been funded through the Household Support Fund, is also be open again this winter.

Sefton’s Warm Spaces

Coordinated by the Council and Sefton CVS, Sefton’s Warm Spaces are safe, warm places, such as community centres, community hubs and libraries. People can vist them to connect with others, take part in activities and maybe enjoy a cup of tea. Free Wi-Fi is available at some locations.

You can can find details of Sefton’s Warm Spaces here.