PLANS to support households over the coming year have been announced by Essex County Council.

Funding totalling £18.873 million has been allocated from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund. The funding, which runs to 31 March 2024, will be used to support households who may otherwise struggle with the cost of energy, groceries, household bills or other essential living costs.

Funding will be available through a number of access points, including the Essential Living Fund and local voluntary and community sector organisations who are working every day in their local communities.

Support for families in receipt of free school meals will continue as will targeted support for care leavers and young carers.

Cllr Louise McKinlay, Essex County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnerships and Performance, said: “We know that there are people in Essex who are continuing to feel the strain financially due to the rising cost of living.

“We have announced today where £18.873m of Household Support Fund grant will be used over the next year. This funding will continue to help support those who are most in need.

“We are particularly keen to ensure that people with disabilities, pensioners and those not in receipt of direct government support such as cost of living payments, access support and they, like all residents can take a look at our website to see what funding is available and how to access help.”

As part of the £18.873 million package, the council is focusing on key areas of support including:

£8.4 million for the provision of free school meals
£7.7 million for the Essential Living Fund
£950,000 for food banks and education programmes
£700,000 for voluntary and community organisations
£200,000 for young carers
£170,000 for care leavers
£50,000 for Community Supermarkets
Last year, Essex County Council announced a Cost of Living Support for Households and Communities plan, a £50m package of support.

Through the plan, the council brings together partners, charities and organisations to tackle the issues residents are facing. It also maps the wider support being delivered across the county.

More information on the cost of living support on offer to residents in Essex is available at: https://www.essex.gov.uk/cost-of-living.

Residents are also urged to contact the Essential Living Fund if they are struggling financially: www.southend.gov.uk/extra-financial-help/essential-living-fund.

The fund can support with:

furniture
household furnishings
white goods
general living expenses – these are day to day living expenses such as groceries, nappies, toiletries and fuel.