Thousands of households in North Yorkshire will benefit from vital support to help cover the cost of food, energy and other essentials this winter.
More than £6 million has been allocated to local schemes as part of the seventh phase of the Government’s Household Support Fund (HSF). The funding will help local food banks, support people to stay warm in their homes, and assist households in greatest need, including families with children, older residents, and anyone struggling with essential living costs.
Tens of thousands of households in the county have already received support through the first six rounds of the fund.
“We know there are still many residents in our communities who struggle to pay for the everyday essential items which most of us would take for granted,” said Cllr Heather Phillips, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services. “That is where the Household Support Fund can step in, giving local organisations the tools and funding to help the most vulnerable members of our communities. They have been doing a wonderful job in the previous rounds, proving to be a lifeline for many households in North Yorkshire who have struggled financially as soaring food and energy prices continue to present challenges. Through the HSF scheme, our aim is to ensure no one in need struggles in silence and we would encourage everyone to look at the support available across the county and reach out.”
This phase includes £230,000 for the North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund, which provides emergency support for food and utilities, and £10,000 to help care leavers develop skills for independent living, including meal planning, cooking, budgeting and home maintenance.
Thomas Woods, 19, left North Yorkshire Council’s care system in November 2023 and now lives independently while attending college in Harrogate. He said the support has helped him manage the cost of living and adjust to independent life. “Higher food prices make it a struggle to find healthy, balanced meals. The council has provided guidance to use the foodbank if I needed to and prepare meals efficiently and on a budget which has helped enormously, especially after a long and busy day at college,” he said.
Eligible households will again be able to claim supermarket vouchers to help pay for essentials. Households who qualify have received a letter containing a code to download an e-voucher online, with the option of a printed version. Council staff are available to provide support by phone, e-mail, or in person at seven main offices. Staff and volunteers at 42 libraries in North Yorkshire can also offer face-to-face assistance for those less confident using the online system.
Direct award payments are available to residents receiving a weekly council tax discount of 75 per cent or more through the means-tested council tax reduction scheme. Those households will receive a single e-voucher for £190.
“For this phase we’ve extended the eligibility criteria to help even more low-income households, and I would urge anyone who is eligible and gets a letter to make sure they do redeem their voucher by Wednesday, 12 November,” said Cllr Phillips. “Nobody will know when you use your voucher in the supermarket that you’ve had a Household Support Fund payment; it will look like any other voucher.”
Eligible residents can choose from nine supermarkets: Aldi, ASDA, Farmfoods, Iceland, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. Only ASDA, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose offer both in-store and online shopping.
More information about phase seven of the Household Support Fund can be found at www.northyorks.gov.uk/householdsupportfund, or by visiting any North Yorkshire library or council office.
