Barnsley Council has worked closely with their voluntary and community sector to deliver the Household Support Fund and have allocated some of the funding directly to community organisations who are developing sustainable approaches to the rising cost of living.
The project
Barnsley Council has worked closely with their voluntary and community sector to deliver the Household Support Fund and have allocated some of the funding directly to community organisations who are developing sustainable approaches to the rising cost of living. The council has specified that the grant, where possible, should be concentrated on low-income households that do not qualify for any of the other existing cost of living schemes, such as free school meal vouchers, cost of living payments, or energy rebate grants.
The grant has been utilised in a way that supports and complements the existing social infrastructure in Barnsley, which consists of voluntary and community sector organisations that have existing roots in the community and understand hyper-local need. The council has recognised this partnership approach to supporting residents as being important to delivering an effective and long-lasting response to cost of living.
Organisations that received funding include:
- Community First Credit Union – to provide interest free loans that help residents pay off debt that is incurring high interest charges.
- Good Food Barnsley – to fund Storehouse & Field, which is a community pantry where households pay a small sum each week and in return get five times of the amount of food than the amount they have paid.
- Salvation Army – to fund food, other essentials, and a wrap-around advice service.
- Barnsley College – to provide food and essentials to students impacted by the cost of living.
- Forge Community Partnership – to support residents with fuel debt.