Winter grant scheme to provide vital help
Council pledges extra £279,000 for essential services to vulnerable
WEST Berkshire Council has launched a Covid Winter Grant Scheme worth £279,000 for food, energy and other essential items for residents in need due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Free school meal vouchers for holidays will also form part of the programme.
The scheme will run until March 31, 2021.
Through the scheme, the council said it would provide families, individuals and vulnerable people in need with financial support for food, utility bills (heating, cooking, lighting), water bills for household purposes (including drinking, washing, cooking, central heating, sewerage and sanitary purposes) or other related essentials.
The council added that it would make arrangements for the provision of free school meal vouchers for eligible five- to 16-year-olds during the Christmas and February half-term school holidays – 17 days in total.
Children in school not currently receiving free school meals but considered by the school as vulnerable will be included.
Consideration will also be given to children between 16 and 18 and children in cross border education settings.
Details on how the vouchers will be implemented are being finalised.
Council leader Lynne Doherty (Con, Speen) said: “We are fully aware that it’s going to be a tough winter for the large number of residents whose jobs sadly have been impacted by the pandemic.
“We want them to know that our new Covid Winter Grant Scheme is available to help pay for food, utility bills, and essential supplies between December and March next year.
“As we head into winter and the festive season, we do not want anyone to be concerned about being able to feed their families or keeping warm.”
The Covid Winter Grant Scheme funds of £279,000 were recently allocated to West Berkshire by central government.
Further funding of £150,000 has been identified from the council’s overall allocation of Covid-related grants, should it be required.
The application process for the Covid Winter Grant Scheme will also enable eligible applicants to benefit from other funding through the £103,000 Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies for ongoing support with their needs, for example, information to access longer term support such as benefits.
This will provide a total of £532,000 funding available to support people in Covid-related hardship in West Berkshire over the winter period.
To identify those most in need, the council said it would work with professionals, statutory partners, parish councils, Citizens Advice West Berkshire, Newbury Resource Centre and other community and voluntary groups.
DWP Job Centre Plus will also be playing an active role to support those newly in financial hardship, such as through job losses.
Those who currently have support from professionals, such as social and care workers, will be encouraged to work with their provider to make an application.
In addition, individuals who are in need can make an online application independently on the West Berkshire website or contact the Community Support Hub.
The application form will ask for information about the financial support required and for information about any benefits they are being paid.
The application will not be means tested.
Non-receipt of benefits will not necessarily exclude a family or individual from receiving support, and any exceptions will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
The Community Support Hub is open during office hours between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Thursday, or between 8.30am and 4.30pm on Friday.
Arrangements will be in place to identify and manage any incidences of fraudulent activity.