Fund to help poorest set to get the go-ahead

A fund to help the poorest people in North Tyneside is set to be given the go-ahead.

The council is proposing to launch a new £1m fund to help some of the poorest people in the borough.

As part of its budget for 2020/2021, the council is directing the new funding to help reduce the impact of poverty on thousands of people across North Tyneside – people of working age, families, children and pensioners.

More than 19,000 (9%) North Tyneside residents live in the most deprived 10% of neighbourhoods in England, and 24,219 residents (12%) living in the most deprived 20% of neighbourhoods.

Around 42% of children in the most deprived wards of Riverside, Chirton and Howdon are living in poverty, compared to an average of one in five children across the borough as a whole.

Recently, a national survey by Just Group also found that 46% of eligible pensioner homeowners are failing to claim any state benefits, while a further 18% are claiming but receiving less than they are entitled to.

It shows that those who don’t claim anything are each missing out on an average of £1,423 a year per household, while those receiving too little are underclaiming by £2,102 a year.

The proposals will be debated at the council’s cabinet meeting on June 29 and work to start setting up the fund will start next month.

They will be brought forward by North Tyneside’s Deputy Mayor, Coun Bruce Pickard, and Coun Ray Glindon, cabinet member for finance and resources.

Coun Pickard said: “Tackling poverty in our area is a fundamental priority for this council and we know from listening to our residents where help is needed.”