Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse
Coffey): The Covid Winter Grant Scheme has enabled Local
Authorities in England to provide targeted support to families
and individuals, keeping them warm and well fed over the winter
period, with the principal focus being on disadvantaged children.
The initial scheme was issued at £170 million and was due to
conclude at the end of March 2021. In the first two months of the
scheme, covering December 2020 and January 2021, Local
Authorities spent over £86 million, with 94% awarded to support
families with children and 96% used on the provision of food and
support with utility bills. In the same period, nearly 2.4
million awards had been made to vulnerable households through the
scheme. The scheme was subsequently extended with an additional
£59.1 million of support and was due to conclude this Friday
16th April.
Recognising that some restrictions on the economy continue, we
are extending the scheme until the 20th June 2021
with funding of £40 million and re-naming it the Covid Local
Support Grant. This brings the scheme in line with the Prime
Minister’s roadmap out of lockdown as on the 21 June, provided we
continue to pass the four steps needed to progress through the
roadmap, most of the remaining restrictions will be lifted.
All conditions of the grant continue, as does the allocation
methodology.
