Council leader announces additional £5m boost to Wandsworth’s Cost of Living support fund  

Wandsworth’s cost of living support fund is to receive an additional £5m to ensure it continues to help residents through the nation’s ongoing economic crisis.
 
The package of support for residents is increasing from £10m to £15m. It is the largest and most generous scheme of its kind in London.
 
It builds upon a raft of measures already in place to help residents through the economic downturn and reflects the council’s move to focus on longer-term preventative support measures, including those recommended by the borough’s independent Cost of Living Commission.
 
Council leader Simon Hogg said: “This week we announced a freeze to the main part of council tax bills which is delivering the lowest bills in the country and helping to relieve the pressure on residents facing ever-increasing household costs. 
 
“And at the same time we are stepping up our support for families struggling to make ends meet by increasing our cost of living support fund from £10m to £15m. 
 
“We know just how important this support has proved over recent months and just what a difference it has made to thousands of our residents suffering financial hardship as a result of the cost of living crisis. 
  
“We are able to do this through careful planning without adding a penny to the main part of council tax – meaning we can deliver London’s biggest and most generous scheme of its kind without adding to those household bills.
 
“And using the insights of the Wandsworth Cost of Living Commission, we are looking at longer-term action we and the community as a whole can take to reduce the effects of the crisis in the future.
 
“We are making Wandsworth fairer and more compassionate. We understand the pressures our residents are facing and are committed to doing all we can to help.”

The far-reaching package of support already delivered to Wandsworth residents and now being extended includes:

•    Delivering the lowest council tax bills in the country.

•    Securing a cost-of-living payment of £130 for pensioner households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction.

•    Creating a network of community spaces where residents can access hot food and drinks plus advice and assistance.

•    Ensuring new council contracts include a requirement for staff to be paid the Living Wage – and encouraging other local employers to do the same.

•    Providing cash vouchers to lower-income families to help cover the cost of new school uniforms.

•    Ensuring children don’t go hungry during the school holidays by providing food vouchers to those eligible for free school meals.

•    Working with schools to deliver a holistic food strategy covering breakfast, lunch and after-school to reduce food poverty and ensure all children have freshly made, healthy, nutritious, high-quality meals. 

•    Providing more energy efficiency and water saving devices to residents and working with internet providers to secure low-cost internet connections for struggling families.

•    Increasing the level of funding in the Wandsworth Discretionary Social Fund to support residents facing hardship.

•    Simplifying the process of applying for, and receiving, assistance under the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme.

•    Establishing and supporting the work of an independent Cost of Living Commission looking at other ways the council can support residents facing tough financial times.

•    Creating a Cost of Living Hub in partnership with Citizens Advice, to ensure residents can access all the help they need and are entitled to.

For more information about how the council is supporting local communities, please visit https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/cost-of-living-hub/