The Government have announced that Children and families will get extra support this winter, with councils given new funding, which will ensure vulnerable households do not go hungry or without essential items.
These announcements build on the significant support already given to the most vulnerable in society, and account for the increased pressures caused by the pandemic. The winter support package includes:
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£170m for the Covid Winter Grant Scheme to support children, families and the most vulnerable over winter. This will allow Local Authorities to directly help the hardest-hit families and individuals, as well as provide food for children who need it over the holidays.
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£220m for the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which is being expanded to cover the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays in 2021. This programme has provided healthy food and enriching activities to disadvantaged children since 2018.
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Healthy Start payments will rise from £3.10 to £4.25 a week from April 2021 – This will support pregnant women, or families with children under four on low incomes to buy fresh fruit and vegetables for themselves and their children.
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Funding for food distribution charities to be increased by £16m. The Government is already liasing with organisations like FareShare to determine how this extra funding will be allocated to get to those most in need.
The government has consistently supported the lowest-paid families throughout the pandemic, including increasing funding across the welfare system by £9.3bn. Ministers have already taken unprecedented measures during the pandemic to protect the most vulnerable, and put in place a strong package of financial support to support families and children.
Among the many support packages and measures outlined since the pandemic began, the Government have protected millions of jobs and livelihoods through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme or furlough as it is often referred. Which has been extended until March 2021. The Government has also increased Universal Credit and Tax Credits by up to £20 a week this year.
£63m has been made available to local authorities and councils across England to provide emergency assistance to families, pensioners and the most vulnerable. These include supplies such as food, toiletries and other essentials. Free school meals support has also been extended to those eligible. Addditonal funding has also increased the Local Housing Allowance for Universal Credit and housing benefit claimants, which covers the lowest 30% of local rents – This will benefit over 1 million households by on average £600 this year.
Justin Tomlinson MP commented, “As a Minister in the DWP, I have been working tirelessly to deliver additional support to the most vulnerable families through the welfare system. This package builds on that support, and by extending our successful Holiday Activities and Food programme, as well as funding a £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme, we are making sure families get the help they need.”
Robert Buckland MP commented, “I am glad that the government have announced this winter support package, which further builds on the support we have already provided to those most vulnerable families during the Coronavirus Pandemic.”
