Rotherham Council has unveiled plans to use a £4.3m government grant to support local residents struggling with rising food and energy costs.
The council will allocate more than £2.6m to provide food vouchers to children eligible for free school meals, which can be used during the school holidays. This initiative aims to ease financial pressure on families during the break.
Additionally, £950,000 will go towards helping around 14,400 households with their council tax, with many of these households having their full council tax covered for the 2025/26 financial year.
A significant portion of the funding – £500,000 – will be dedicated to providing one-off grants of £250 to eligible households, including pensioners, to help with escalating energy bills.
The council has also set aside £90,000 to assist care leavers, offering support for young people who have recently transitioned out of foster care or local authority care, helping with their living costs.
In response to seasonal pressures, local voluntary and community organisations will receive £60,000 to distribute food hampers and offer emergency financial aid to vulnerable households during the Christmas and New Year period.
£100,000 will be allocated to provide parcels containing essential household items, such as cleaning and personal hygiene products, which will be distributed through local community networks such as food banks and social supermarkets.
The council said these funds will be flexible and can be adjusted based on demand throughout the year.
For more details on how to apply for support, you can visit the council’s website here.