Hampshire County Council Announces £12.5m Support Package for Vulnerable Households

The Hampshire County Council has unveiled a £12.5m support package to provide immediate and long-term assistance to vulnerable households struggling with rising costs. The initiative, funded through the Department for Work and Pensions' Household Support Fund, is part of the council's connect4communities programme, which aims to support low-income households with essentials like food and fuel. The package will target families with children, unpaid carers, care leavers, people with disabilities, pensioners, and those facing unexpected financial hardships. The support will be delivered through a combination of direct crisis support, preventative measures, and community-based initiatives.

Key Takeaways:

• The £12.5m support package will be funded by the Department for Work and Pensions' Household Support Fund.
• The initiative will target families with children, unpaid carers, care leavers, people with disabilities, pensioners, and those facing unexpected financial hardships.
• The package includes £5.6m in direct crisis support for schools, colleges, and early year settings to help vulnerable families.
• £1.9m will be allocated for crisis support, including food vouchers to help with bills.
• £1.5m is dedicated for preventative support, such as financial advice, digital inclusion services, and community wellbeing initiatives.
• An additional £1.8m will be given to community organisations that provide advice and support related to food and fuel poverty and help vulnerable individuals with essential household items.
• The council will collaborate with schools, borough and district councils, and voluntary organisations to deliver the support.
• Hampshire's community pantries will receive more than £1m to offer cheap essentials and reduce food waste.
• A portion of the funds will be made available through an application-based scheme, allowing residents to request help.

Statistics:

• The support package totals £12.5 million.
• £5.6m will be invested in direct crisis support for schools, colleges, and early year settings.
• £1.9m will be allocated for crisis support, including food vouchers to help with bills.
• £1.5m is dedicated for preventative support.
• An additional £1.8m will be given to community organisations to support vulnerable individuals.
• More than £1m will be allocated to Hampshire's community pantries to reduce food waste and offer cheap essentials.
• The council's connect4communities programme will aim to support low-income households with essentials like food and fuel.

Sources:

• Hampshire County Council
• Department for Work and Pensions' Household Support Fund
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• Cllr Roz Chadd, the county council's cabinet lead member for children's services.