If you need help we are here to support you.
Dear Antonia Bance MP, Sarah Coombes MP, Alex Ballinger MP and Gurinder Singh Josan CBE MP,
Re: Crisis and Resilience Fund
I am writing to demand a retraction and an apology for your recent open letter regarding the Crisis and Resilience Fund and how we are intending to use this funding in line with the Government’s grant conditions.
I can assure you that we are making support available, and I want to be really clear to those families in hardship in Sandwell who may be worried about the contents of your letter, and those who are struggling to afford food due to the challenging economic conditions and increase in food and energy prices recently, we are here to help and you should get in touch.
As the report coming to Cabinet next week makes clear, our proposed scheme will provide financial help with food costs. Up to £50 will be made available to anyone who is struggling at any time – not just families whose children receive benefit-related Free School Meals during the school holidays – up to a maximum of three payments in a 12-month period.
As you will also be aware, the new Crisis and Resilience Fund replaces the previous Household Support Fund. The guidance for the fund states:
“The primary objective of The Fund is to both provide a safety net for those on low incomes who encounter a financial shock and to invest in building local financial resilience to enable individuals and communities to better deal with crises in the long-term, reducing crisis need.”
It also states:
“It is important to note that Crisis Payments are intended to meet occasional or short-term needs and cannot provide an alternative source of regular income.”
We are determined to make the most of this money to make a real difference for Sandwell residents. It’s about a ‘hand up’ rather than a ‘handout’.
Under our proposed scheme, households on low incomes, including those not currently in receipt of means-tested benefits, will be able to request help to buy food if they are struggling financially – at any time throughout the year.
This will help the council to target its support to the people who need it most, including now being able to support families who just miss out on being eligible for Free School Meals, whilst also funding schemes that will help people avoid falling on hard times again.
This isn’t about a sticking plaster to get families through the school holidays. We’re using this money to help people through a crisis, and also to set them up to succeed in the future. By targeting our support, and giving that hand up when it’s needed, we aim to make sure residents have the knowledge, skills and confidence to stay financially secure.
We want people to know that support is available, and the council is here to help when you need it. Full details of how to apply to our scheme will be published on the council’s website after the Cabinet meeting on 15 July.
My priority as Leader of the Council is to help the people of Sandwell through these challenging times.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Ray Nock
Leader of Sandwell Council