Package of Cost of Living Support and Advice in Place for Residents

A comprehensive package of advice and cost of living support has again been put in place by Reading Council for families and households in the town who may be struggling financially.

Whether it is direct financial support, referrals to other help that is available, or advice on how people can make the most of their money, the Council wants to ensure residents know about the support on offer locally if they are struggling to make ends meet.

For families, earlier this year the Council opened four new Family Hubs across Reading. Located in the heart of our communities - at Whitley, Ranikhet, Sun Street and Southcote - they offer a wide range of information, advice, support and activities all under one roof for families, children, and young people.

Supporting residents from pregnancy, through the teenage years and into early adulthood, hub timetables include a range of topics such as emotional support for new parents, young people’s wellbeing, housing advice, help with speech and language, stay and play for children under five and more. Information of what’s on offer can be found at https://servicesguide.reading.gov.uk/kb5/reading/directory/familyhub.page?familyhubchannel=0.

Reading’s four new Family Hubs are in addition to the Council’s four existing Community Centres - at Whitley Wood, Hexham Road, Coley Park, and Lyndhurst - where again there is a wide range support and advice available to all residents.

Reading is also home to an incredible and well-established voluntary and community sector and the Council regularly makes full use of these groups and organisations to reach residents who may be struggling financially and don’t know where else to turn. Through its Closing the Gap initiative, the Council already provides £1.4 million of financial support to the sector, including £274,000 a year for Cost of Living and Debt Advice services from Citizens Advice Reading where residents can find out what support is available to them and advice on the best way to access it.

A report to June’s Policy Committee outlines proposals of how some of the funding made available through the Government’s Crisis Resilience Fund (CRF) will be used in Reading to invest in more food pantries, a community banking scheme as an alternative to high interest loans, and additional support for low-income pensioners and victims of domestic abuse.

The Government’s CRF scheme replaces the previous Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payment schemes. Reading Council will receive £2,335,271 in CRF funding this year and proposes to use it to bring positive and sustained change to the financial health of residents, many of whom face ongoing financial challenges because of their specific circumstances.

The Government requirement for councils is to move away from the blanket issuing of vouchers and instead focus resources on those with the greatest need. Reading Council has designed a local support scheme which allows low-income households who find themselves in difficulty to apply for direct financial help.

A Crisis Payment scheme allows residents to apply for financial support for things like food, other shopping, clothing, utilities, and transport. A separate Housing Payment scheme allows residents to apply for short term support with housing costs to help them stay in their home or secure accommodation. Residents who are receiving Council Tax Support can also apply for support to avoid falling behind on Council Tax. 

Applications for both the Housing Payment and Crisis Payment schemes can now be made online at https://www.reading.gov.uk/CRF  by telephone, or in person within the Civic Offices.

The Policy Committee report, to be discussed on Monday 15 June, can be found at https://democracy.reading.gov.uk/documents/s39937/Support%20for%20Low-Income%20Households.pdf

Councillor Liz Terry, Reading Borough Council Leader, said:

“Higher living costs affect all of us, but for families and households who struggle financially the consequences can be serious which is why the Council’s priority is to ensure residents know about all the help and support which is available to them this year.

 “That support can take the form of direct financial help through the Council’s Crisis Payment or Housing Payment schemes which residents can now apply for online, making full use of our four brand new Family Hubs in Whitley, Ranikhet, Sun Street and Southcote, which include a wealth of advice, support and activities for parents and young children, in addition to the help and support on hand at our existing Community Centres at Whitley Wood, Hexham Road, Coley Park and Lyndhurst.

 “The Council also makes full use of the town’s incredible community and voluntary sector by additionally funding a wide variety of local initiatives, as well as funding Citizens Advice Reading to help residents access the support available to them. As part of the Government’s new CRF scheme we are proposing to increase the number of food pantries out in our communities, as well as new local initiatives such as community banking schemes, and help for low-income pensioners or victims of domestic abuse.

 “There is a comprehensive package of support in Reading for families and households who may be struggling to make ends meet and the Council is determined to do all it can to ensure residents know about and take advantage of the help on offer.”

For any resident struggling financially, there is a huge amount of cost-of-living information, advice and support available on the Council’s Money Matters page  www.reading.gov.uk/money-matters whether that is advice for residents struggling to pay their rent, mortgage or Council Tax, on help with energy and water bills or food costs, and help with things like clothing.