£42m Grenfell survivors’ fund set to be ratified in town hall chambers

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

Victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy are set to receive £42m in direct payments and well-being support until 2028, council documents show.

Kensington and Chelsea council’s leadership team will vote tomorrow on whether to approve the final model of the Future Grenfell Support package, which will provide financial relief and services to survivors and the immediate community around Grenfell Tower.

The funds, which will come from council and government pots, will go towards providing survivors and the bereaved £7,000 in annual payments and a key-worker.

Some £10m has been earmarked to provide free gym memberships, discounted respite breaks and advocacy support to residents within 500m of the Tower at the time of the fire.

Another £14m will be directed towards education and training for victims and the local community. Kensington and Chelsea council wrapped up months of consultations on a new compensation model in May, gaining broad support from the community, survey findings suggest.

Figures released by the council show 68 per cent of respondents said the opt-in/opt-out option for a key worker gave them choice and control. Some 53 per cent felt positively represented in the model with 18pc feeling fine with most aspects of it.

Another 46 per cent felt comfortable with the final version while 24 per cent said they feel fine with most of it. Some 30 per cent said they did not feel comfortable to some extent.

The council said people who stood to receive lower personal payments were more likely to be unhappy with the model. It is understood ex-residents of Grenfell Tower who were not there on the night and residents of Grenfell Walk will face a reduction in payments.

Under the plans, survivors and the bereaved can receive a lump payment or receive annual draw downs ranging from £1,500 to £8,000, depending on whether they opt in for a key-worker. They’ll also have a yearly review and be able to out or back into receive the support of a key-worker.

Some 200 households each year will also be eligible for discounted respite breaks away while adults and children who live within 500m of the Tower could get free memberships to either Kensington Leisure Centre or Westway Sports Centre. Money will also be given to advocacy teams to help people with housing and health issues and to community activities.

A report by the council read: “This £42m additional support, is structured restoratively, and therefore aims to address current issues and help with future needs. It is an opportunity to take stock, consider what has happened in the past, and provide enhanced support that will hopefully help people progress and move forwards on their journey.

“We recognise the ongoing needs and trauma of everyone who is eligible for this additional support and acknowledge the emotional difficulties involved in the financial parts of this process.”

If approved, the Future Grenfell Support programme will take effect in September and replace the support service, known as Dedicated Service, currently in place. The council carried out three rounds of consultations since summer 2023 and heard from over 3,000 people.

The funding will be provided by Kensington and Chelsea council and the government under the Global Settlement Agreement. The council will provide £12m, which will be funded through borrowing, while the government is expected to provide funds through grants.

Picture: LDRS