Continued support for people in South Cambridgeshire impacted by the cost-of-living crisis

South Cambridgeshire District Council is stepping up its fight against the cost-of-living crisis with a newly secured £151,000 funding extension.

The funding is part of a package of measures aimed at supporting households most in need. This year, the focus will shift towards financial resilience and digital literacy.

Cllr Henry Batchelor, Lead Cabinet Member for Communities for the District Council, said: “The cost-of-living crisis continues to put immense pressure on people, especially our most vulnerable residents. That’s why we’re committed to providing real, practical support that makes a difference such as financial education, food assistance and energy-saving initiatives. This additional funding allows us to extend our efforts and continue helping those who need it most. It is imperative we think beyond short-term relief and focus on sustainable solutions.”

Plans are underway for workshops covering:

• Financial education workshops in Community Hubs to empower residents to take control of their finances. These workshops will equip participants with practical skills and strategies to create and maintain budgets, manage debt, and plan for long-term financial stability.
• Digital literacy is increasingly important for accessing job opportunities, educational resources, health information, and government services. These workshops will help residents navigate online services and cover essential topics such as basic computer skills, internet navigation, online safety, and the use of digital communication tools.
• Education Readiness Support for young people aged 11+ to support children living in poverty with the provision of refurbished laptops to enhance their educational opportunities.

Additionally, the use of a new IT package being used by the District Council called LIFT (Low-Income Family Tracker) will ensure that hundreds of households receive the benefits they are entitled to.

By this summer, proactive outreach will target over 600 elderly residents living alone, connecting them with local hubs to reduce social isolation and provide vital support.

Over the past two years, South Cambridgeshire District Council has implemented a series of innovative, community-driven initiatives designed to provide direct, tangible support to residents struggling with soaring costs. Including:

• A Cost-of-Living Roadshow, delivering vital information and training to over 70 professionals and volunteers. The sessions helped increase uptake of grants and benefits, ensuring residents could access support available to them.
• Provided funding to Cambridgeshire Acre to transform 25 Warm Hubs into 18 Community Hubs, expanding their role beyond providing warmth in winter to becoming year-round centres offering debt advice, housing support, food aid, and health outreach - creating a lifeline for many vulnerable residents.
• Distributing 500 electric blankets to residents at risk of fuel poverty in winter 2023/24. This simple yet effective intervention led to estimated savings of up to £397 per household.
• Distributing 169 emergency food parcels.
• A Council Tax Support campaign drove thousands of residents to seek financial relief, reaching over 24,000 people through social media advertising.
• A Mobile Food Hub, travelling to eight locations, recording over 2,000 visits in its first year. This innovative approach bridged gaps in foodbank coverage and ensured that struggling residents could access essential groceries.
• Community Vegetable Gardens were funded through small grants, encouraging residents to grow and share fresh produce.
• Identified 84 households that narrowly missed out on Pension Credit eligibility. These residents were offered energy-saving appliances alongside financial advice, resulting in an 80% response rate and a 65% uptake—a testament to the power of precise, data driven and targeted interventions.
• Identifying 287 households likely to be eligible for Pension Credit but not claiming it. All households were sent letters informing them and followed up with a call to ensure all were aware in the effort of supporting them to claim Pension Credit before the winter fuel payment deadline.
• Tackling period poverty through a new partnership with Hey Girls, providing free reusable period products. To date, 351 products have been distributed.

The council’s updated Cost of Living support plans were agreed in a meeting of Cabinet. To find out more visit the District Council’s webpage.