Pictured Above: Outside Citizens Advice East Berks in Marlow Rd, Maidenhead is (L-R): Councillor Simon Werner, the Council Leader and Cabinet member for community partnerships, public protection and Maidenhead; Citizens Advice chief executive Gordon Ackroyd; Councillor Catherine Del Campo, Cabinet member for adults, health and housing services; and David Adam, Citizens Advice Adviceline Supervisor and Household Support Fund Lead.
Cost of living support is still available for residents in need, as Royal Borough relaunches Here to Help campaign
As the days grow colder and heating bills rise, the Royal Borough is again boosting promotion of cost of living support and encouraging those struggling financially to seek help before problems escalate.
Today the council is relaunching ‘Here to Help’, its promotional campaign bringing together a range of cost of living support available from the council, government and local community partners.
Those facing difficult decisions around food, rent, heating or other essentials are encouraged to visit https://rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/hub-page/here-to-help to see what help might be available and also check the free benefits calculator at www.entitledto.co.uk to see whether you could be missing out on national assistance.
The Royal Borough is also launching a new service to help maximise the income of residents. If you would like to discuss your income with a dedicated officer from the Financial Inclusion Team, ease email financial.inclusion@rbwm.gov.uk and an appointment can be arranged.
Earlier this year, the council was given £1,175,810 in the latest round of the DWP Household Support Fund to help households most in need through to April 2024: those residents in severe financial hardship and at risk of problems escalating. Applications remain open to local adults in financial need.
To target this funding, the council has been working with 15 frontline community partners to identify those residents in greatest need to receive a one-off cash payment of £145 and help them to explore wider cost of living support around food, debt relief, and benefits.
Citizens Advice East Berkshire is the point of contact for residents who would like to put themselves forward for support. Email hsf@caeb.org.uk in the first instance, or otherwise call 0808 278 7914. Citizens Advice also has a drop-in service at their office in 4 Marlow Road, Maidenhead on Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am to 12pm.
For information about community partners and the FAQs, please visit https://rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/household-support-fund If you previously received the Household Support Fund before 10 July 2023, you may reapply. Applications cannot be made directly to the council.
Some of this money is also being used to provide food vouchers for families in receipt of free school meals during the school holidays, including at Christmas. Families should contact their schools to find out more.
Councillor Catherine del Campo, Cabinet member for adults, health and housing services, said: “As winter approaches, we know the extra cost of heating, together with already high inflation, will put some people into severe financial hardship. We’re doing all we can to help the hardest hit, working with our community partners. These are challenging times for all residents, and we want to ensure that everyone throughout the borough has the financial resilience to cope.
“If you’re struggling financially and facing difficult decisions around food, rent, heating or other essentials, please contact Citizens Advice East Berkshire about the Household Support Fund before you reach crisis point.
“You can also arrange an appointment with our Financial Inclusion Team to ensure you’re claiming everything you might be entitled to, and check our ‘Here to Help’ webpages to explore wider cost of living support and advice around energy and water bills, rent, council tax, food, childcare, school meals, benefits and more.
“If you are struggling with paying your council tax, please contact us before you go into arrears, as there’s a range of support you may be able to access, including flexible payment plans and various discounts and exemptions.
“Everyone can play a part during these challenging times by being a good neighbour and looking out for each other, especially those who are vulnerable, unwell or elderly. Please also continue to be vigilant to scams related to energy support schemes.”
For those in need who don’t have online access, you can still call 01628 683800 or visit the webpages using the public-access computers at libraries, or speak with a librarian for advice around cost of living support and/or getting online.
: Outside Citizens Advice East Berks in Marlow Rd, Maidenhead is (L-R): Councillor Simon Werner, the Council Leader and Cabinet member for community partnerships, public protection and Maidenhead; Citizens Advice chief executive Gordon Ackroyd; Councillor Catherine Del Campo, Cabinet member for adults, health and housing services; and David Adam, Citizens Advice Adviceline Supervisor and Household Support Fund Lead.