Torbay Council is accepting applications for grants from the Household Support Fund, which was setup to help families and individuals who are struggling to pay for their living costs.
The council is making £1.2m available from the scheme, which was initially setup in 2021 and has now been extended until the end of September 2022.
Under the scheme, households in Torbay will be able to apply for £50 towards food and those liable for energy bills an additional £50 towards those costs.
Only one application per household will be considered and for those who applied previously for support you are encouraged to reapply this year.
Free School Meals
For families with children and young people who are eligible for free school meals, funds have been allocated for food vouchers.
Money has also been set aside for those of working age and pension aged households – a third of the funding is ring fenced for those who are currently receiving pension credit.
Funding from the scheme is limited and the scheme will close as soon as funding is no longer available.
Torbay Council have said that they are in a position to continue to help parents and carers whose children receive benefits-related free school meals by hosting Health Holidays clubs during the Summer, Christmas and Easter break. It is expected that the Health Holidays club will return in the summer holidays.
Councillor Christine Carter, Cabinet Member for Corporate and Community Services said:
Rising food and energy prices mean times are hard at the moment for many people and we hope this money can go some way towards easing that hardship.
“The money is particularly aimed at pensioners and families with children, and we would encourage those who think they might be eligible to apply now.”
For more information and to apply to the fund visit the Torbay Council Website