Responding to the Government’s announcement that a coronavirus
grant scheme providing help with food and bills for vulnerable
households has been extended until June, Cllr , Chair of the
Local Government Association’s Resources Board, said:
“This further funding will help councils to continue to
provide much-needed support to low income households at risk of
poverty and financial hardship as the Government continues its
gradual easing of the coronavirus measures. Councils will, for
example, be able to provide further targeted support to families
entitled to free school meals during the May holiday
period.
“To ensure that we are able to best address the underlying
drivers of disadvantage and break cycles of poverty in the longer
term, the LGA is discussing with government and partners how best
to enable councils to provide integrated, preventative support to
low-income households.”
Notes to editors
A coronavirus grant scheme providing help with food and
bills for vulnerable households has been extended until June,
with an extra £40 million available.
Work and Pensions Secretary said the Covid Winter Grant Scheme would be renamed
the Covid Local Support Grant and will now run until June 20, in
line with England’s road map which is expected to see lockdown
restrictions finally lifted on June 21.
The scheme, which allows English councils to provide
support to families and individuals, had originally been due to
expire on March 31 but had already been extended to April
16.