Frontline groups share more than £600,000 to help struggling residents

11 August 2023

Wirral Summer Food support for children box with rainbow sticker in foreground and non-perishable food stacked on shelving in background

Dozens of community groups from across Wirral have received up to £21,000 each to help them provide food and welfare support to residents who are struggling in their areas.

The local groups will share £606,517 under the Small Grants Programme, which will be used by frontline groups to help residents in their areas who are struggling with food costs, energy and water bills, and other essentials.

Once again, bids to the grant programme were over-subscribed, but 44 local groups successfully applied for up to £20,000 to address welfare needs in their areas. Up to £1,000 was also awarded to each organisation to help with the overhead costs of running their projects.

The Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paul Stuart, said:

“Wirral’s community, voluntary and faith sector plays an incredibly important part in the life of our borough, and once again they have stepped-up to help us make sure that support is provided as quickly as possible to those who need it most.

“The cost of living is expected to continue spiralling for some time yet, so I would urge anyone struggling to get the food and other essential items they need, to get in touch and access the help available.”

The programme is part of a of £6,098,690 million package of support funded by the Government’s Household Support Fund, which runs until the end of March 2024.

The current phase (Round 4) of HSF funding is the latest from the Department for Work and Pensions, which has awarded £15.25million to Wirral since December 2020.

Information about this and other support available is posted on the Council website at www.wirral.gov.uk/costofliving or by calling the helpline on 0151 606 2005 if you are unable to go online.

Information about food and other support available to residents is also posted on the Wirral Infobank website at www.wirralinfobank.co.uk.

Organisations will be invited to apply for funding to deliver essential support over the winter period under a second bidding round, which is expected to be launched in October 2023.

The 44 organisations awarded funding to provide food and welfare support through the Small Grants Programme are: