Borough is given £1.3m winter aid for families

HALTON has been awarded more than £1m of Government funding to help the most hard-pressed families during the cold months.

The borough is to receive about £1.3m from the Household Support Fund (HSF), from around £66m for the North West and a £500m national pot overall.

Halton Borough Council will distribute the cash as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said local authorities “know their local areas best”.

Funding will be generally be distributed as small grants to pay for daily needs such as food, clothing and utilities. Anyone who thinks they might benefit should contact Halton Council for more details.

David Rutley MP, minister for welfare delivery, said: “This funding is there to support those most in need by providing extra help over winter, and by working through local councils we can make sure the vulnerable people in our communities get this vital support.”

A DWP spokeswoman said the fund is part of a wider support package being provided this winter, including a £140 rebate on energy bills through the Warm Home Discount, and the Cold Weather Payment of £25 a week for those in need in areas where the temperature is consistently below zero.

The Government is also launching its £220m Holiday Activities and Food programme over the Christmas break, offering nutritious meals and enriching activities to disadvantaged children, and the Government’s Healthy Start vouchers will help disadvantaged pregnant women or those with children under four to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables – saw their value increased by over a third in April.