4 minute read
£3.2 million Cost of Living Support Fund
The national cost of living crisis has hit people hard, especially those residents less well-off within our communities.
In Salford, we have a strong longstanding commitment to support residents most at risk, with financial assistance, advice and guidance. Tackling poverty continues to remain a mayoral priority, both in terms of immediate support offered and how we prevent poverty. I have now agreed in consultation with the whole Mayoral Team to use a one off refund from the Greater Manchester Waste Levy of £3.2 million to provide some extra targeted support to residents, families and young people most impacted by the ongoing cost of living crisis engulfing our city and the UK.
Currently over a third of school age children are eligible for free school meals and I prioritised taking an early decision to increase the value of summer holiday meal vouchers. I know how important this support has been to families in previous years, ensuring all eligible children receive a decent nutritious meal during the six week summer holidays, by providing £90 per child. Our school holiday meal vouchers initiative will also ensure that all eligible children receive support across all school holidays.
The £3.2 million Cost of Living Support Fund will also:
• Support Salford Community Leisure in providing subsidised activities for low-income families and the successful Holiday Activity Fund will be extended to also provide a universal low cost offer to all (subject to demand, during school holidays for the next 12 months). Discounts will be offered in all Salford Leisure cafes for our over 70s in the city.
• Increase the council’s Salford Assist fund by £750,000 to support our most vulnerable residents who find themselves in crisis or an emergency situation. The Salford Assist fund is already facing more demand than they can meet and this investment will help continue our important work to support residents.
• Additional support will also be provided for care leavers with the cost of utility bills, and there will be continued investment into the Salford Leaving Care Service and the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme as part of our commitment to provide much needed affordable accommodation.
• Increase investment within the council’s Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Service by £406,521 for a campaign and advocacy to increase take-up by people of pensionable age of pension credit(s) and any other financial support.
• Support Salford Credit Union’s offer to provide an ethical and secure alternative to high-cost lenders and loan sharks with the aim of increasing awareness, providing a junior savings club and reducing interest rates on loans for 12 months. The work of the city’s Credit Union has become especially important at this time with greater risk of local people becoming victim to loan sharks and highcost lenders.
The Cost of Living Support Fund proposals and initiatives will support residents, families and young people, putting money directly in the pockets of these residents and households to support them with rising food, energy and housing costs. This additional investment of £3.2m will build on existing support such as independent money advice; support through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme which helps with council tax bills and the Back on Track initiative to assist residents with council tax arrears; in-person and digital support through Better Off Salford to ensure families and businesses receive all unclaimed assistance available; and support to help residents to stay warm over the winter.
For information visit www.salford.gov.uk/costofliving
There are also free activities for all residents. The hugely successful We Invented the Weekend festival returns in 2024. There are free galleries at The Lowry where people can see the incredible work of L S Lowry. RHS Garden Bridgewater has free entry for Salford residents on Tuesdays.
I’d like to thank all our partner agencies who are supporting our communities and young people in this crisis. The work going on in the city is incredible and Salford would not be the same without you.
