County council spending £5m to help folk with household bills

STAFFORDSHIRE County Council says £5.5 million will be spent this summer supporting thousands of people with their domestic bills.

The council is distributing the money for households most in need of help to put towards the cost of food, energy and water. At least one third of the money will be spent on families with children and at least another third is allocated to pensioners. Mark Sutton, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “The pandemic affected many people’s finances and the recent increase in food and energy prices has affected us all.

“For the past 18 months we have been targeting the families and people most in need of additional support and this summer we will distribute another £5.5 million by the end of September, including the families of 27,000 children as part of the Holiday Activity and Food programme.”

The council has been allocated the money from the Department of Work and Pensions. The proposed distribution of support will focus on four areas.

Families of children who receive free school meals will receive a £15 e-voucher for May half term and a £30 e-voucher for the two weeks in the summer holidays when there are no events through the Holiday Activities and Food programme.

Early years children who receive funding for Think 2 and Early Years Pupil Premium will also be eligible.

Care leavers will receive a £50 evoucher to help with their food costs.