Purpose

To outline how the Council will
support residents with Government funding that has been provided
for the Household fund. The total award for Blackpool is
£1.745m for the period 1st October 2024 –
31st March 2025

Decision

To agree that a number of
processes and schemes as outlined below will be implemented to
ensure that the fund will support the most vulnerable residents and
to meet the overall fund requirements. The budget allocations are
based on current estimates and may need revision as the projects
progress. This is because the number of children eligible for free
school meals will fluctuate, and this accounts for the majority of
the proposed spend.
 

1.    
Targeted help:
 
Extension to free school meals
Families eligible for free
school meals will continue to receive support during school
holidays. Eligible families will receive vouchers that will be
distributed by schools. Vouchers will be issued at the rate of
£15 per week for each child entitled to free school
meals.

Total estimated budget £800,000
 
Care
leavers
Vouchers will be provided for the council’s care leavers
primarily to help with the increased cost of food and public
transport.

Total estimated budget £45,000
 
Other council
schemesTargeted support for
residents via Social Care, Family Hub schemes etc. Council services
will be able to provide short term support to residents that may be
struggling with the cost of food etc

Total estimated budget £40,000
 
Voluntary Sector Schemes
Voluntary sector partners will
be invited to submit funding applications for projects that will
support residents that are vulnerable or struggling to pay for
household essentials. Projects will provide winter welcoming places
where people can obtain food, keep warm and engage in social
activity etc.
 
An application process will be
developed and funding awarded subject to a criteria and evaluation
process.  

Total estimated budget £280,000
 
2.    
Application and criteria based
help
 
Discretionary
support scheme
Application based for residents facing hardship with energy bills,
food etc. Residents will be able to apply for a payment to help
with their power and water utility bills.

There is a mandatory requirement in the funding conditions for an
application based scheme to be in place. Payments will normally be
made direct to the utility provider or via an energy top up debit
card.
 
Total estimated budget
£200,000

Pensioner support scheme
An application based support scheme will be developed for
pensioners that may be in hardship due to the loss of the winter
fuel supplement. The qualifying criteria and application process
will be published during winter 2024. The scheme will not be
intended as a replacement for the winter fuel supplement, and will
be aimed at those that are most vulnerable.

Total estimated budget £300,000
 
3.    
Contingency and administration
expenses
The terms of the funding allow
for contingency and administration expenses

Total estimated budget £80,000