Support for vulnerable households
IN THE face of the growing cost of living, Carmarthenshire Council is making sure it can work with its partners to provide a support package for vulnerable households.
At a special event hosted in Llanelli, delegates contributed to a range of discussions that focused on specific population groups in order to better understand people’s current needs and the support available to each group.
Discussions were held on the support that is available for people who are in work but are on low income, or are looking for work, or are unemployed or losing their jobs.
Another key focus of the event was how to best support mothers or couples who are expecting a child, along with families, students and young people during the drastic increase in the cost of living.
Helping older people and pensioners was also at the forefront of the event and agencies were encouraged to share information on their efforts to support people who have been bereaved, carers, people with disabilities or ill-health, or who have been injured or served in the armed forces.
Deputy council leader Cllr Linda Evans said: “This is a very serious situation, and we are all worried about rising food, energy and fuel bills.
“It is vitally important that we get around a table with our stakeholders and partners to ensure that no stone is left unturned in our efforts to support the people of Carmarthenshire during this cost-of-living crisis.
“So far, we as a council have distributed the Welsh Government’s Cost of Living Support Scheme to households and are currently issuing further support through the Welsh Government’s Discretionary Fund and Winter Support Scheme.
“We have created warm spaces at our libraries in Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford, and we are encouraging individuals and local groups to apply for funding from our Poverty Fund, to help finance new and preexisting events and initiatives that could also serve as a means to provide a space for residents to attend, even if it is for a few hours a week.”
To apply for funding, visit the council’s Poverty Fund page at www. carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/ council-services/community-information/bureau/poverty-fund.
Council leader Cllr Darren Price said: “The poverty figures for Carmarthenshire, Wales and the UK are startling – 35.6% of households in Carmarthenshire are living in poverty. In Wales, 17% of children in poverty live in households where all adults are in work, an increase of 5% over the last 10 years, and almost one in five pensioners in Wales are living in poverty.
“These are the people that are most vulnerable to the rising costs of living, and it is a worsening issue that one organisation alone cannot solve.
“The purpose of gathering our partners and stakeholders here in one place is to work together and co-ordinate our efforts to support those most in need in our county.
“There are many factors that contribute to the risk of someone being in poverty, therefore the approach to supporting somebody who is living in poverty is multi-layered and requires co-operation across different agencies and stakeholders.”
There are two ways of accessing this support – online, by visiting the council’s Claim What’s Yours page where you can access information on a wide range of support schemes or arrange to speak with an adviser; or by visiting one of the council’s Hwb centres at Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford to speak with advisers.