More than 7,000 SIM cards, and more than 2,000 devices including phones, laptops and computers provided
1,200 residents facilitated the payment of a grant worth £1.9 million to help them maintain their housing
Chaudhry Talat Gondal, Daily Dawn + Dawn TV report
Manchester: Claims worth a quarter of a million pounds have been made to help poor citizens facing fuel shortages in the British city of Manchester.
The deadline for eligible residents to submit applications for this aid was set at the end of 2024.
The council announced the establishment of a Winter Hardship Fund, enabling residents to claim up to £200 to help them meet their energy costs.
The council has fully utilized its allocation for this fund, distributing £263,000 to over 1,000 households.
This initiative represents the council’s latest effort to mitigate the severe impact of the housing cost crisis.
Over the past 2 years, the council has invested millions of pounds in a range of programs aimed at tackling economic challenges and supporting those most affected.
These measures range from providing meals for school-age children to subsidizing fuel bills and improving access to digital resources.
The council is committed to ensuring that this support is still available two years later.
Manchester City Council details that the council has achieved several key milestones so far, providing free school meals to 46,000 children during the holidays in the last 12 months, allocating over £1m in supplies to community food banks and support groups since 2022, in addition to spending an extra £155,000 on food assistance for residents, and connecting almost 14,000 people through the Cost of Living Advice Line since October 2022.
Since 2020, more than 7,000 SIM cards have been provided, as well as more than 2,000 devices including phones, laptops and computers, have been distributed to people who may be facing digital exclusion.
A grant payment of £1.9m was facilitated to help around 1,200 residents maintain their accommodation, with an additional 2,359 discretionary payments made in the 2023-24 financial year.
£1m in grant funding was released to 70 voluntary and community organisations which collectively supported around 54,000 residents last year.
The Holiday Activity Fund, designed to offer free activities and meals to children during the holidays, saw more than 24,000 children attend during half-term and summer breaks. While there is still much work to be done, the council aims to demonstrate that help is available to those in need and that this help is often just a phone call away.
Manchester City Council Leader Councillor Beau Craig said: “The response to our funding has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the need for this initiative. Having helped over 2,000 people and spent over £250,000, I encourage those who have not yet contacted us to apply for funding which could significantly ease their financial burden.”
He said: “As a council, we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting residents and reducing the negative impact of the crisis, our support is available.”
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