£500,000 for groups to help those struggling in Herefordshire

Community groups in Herefordshire are to be given half a million pounds to support households in the county struggling to cope with increasing food and energy prices.

Herefordshire Council says it identified 12 “existing trusted partners” which had already spent government grants to low-income households locally during the Covid 19 pandemic.

They are:
·       Hereford Foodbank (emergency food provision and cooking equipment): £71,415
·       Herefordshire Community Foundation (support for energy and other essentials): £70,725
·       The Living Room (support for food, energy and other essentials): £63,309
·       Putson Baptist Church (support for food, energy and other essentials): £62,280
·       YES Energy Solutions (support for energy and other essentials): £56,000
·       NILS Scheme (support for household essentials): £60,000
·       Age UK Hereford and localities (home energy checks and advice): £25,765
·       Ledbury Foodbank (support for food and other essentials): £24,921
·       Leominster Foodbank and Money Advice Centre: (support for food): £23,100
·       Mothers’ Union, Diocese of Hereford (support for household essentials): £15,300
·       Severn Wye Energy Agency (support for energy; support for other essentials): £15,000
·       Bromyard Foodbank and Money Advice Centre (emergency food provision): £11,372

The sum is part of a £2.7 million support package, the Household Support Fund, given to Herefordshire Council to distribute in various ways to alleviate need in the county.

The council has allocated a further £100,000 to assist struggling households directly. Those in need of what the council calls emergency support can apply to its Local Welfare Provision service.