£836,000 fund to support hard-pressed Wandsworth families during pandemic

A Covid-19 support fund is helping families across Wandsworth this winter.

The council has set aside £836,000 for a new round of cash support for hard-pressed families during the pandemic.

Most of the cash will be used to help with food, energy and water bills.

This money will help meet the needs of vulnerable and isolated residents.

It also aims to support those with mental health issues, survivors of domestic abuse and private housing tenants threatened with eviction.

Wandsworth’s finance spokesman Cllr Rory O’Broin said: “This is a comprehensive and far-reaching package of support for vulnerable households, and especially those with children, to help them get through the difficult winter months.

“It is a continuation of the various hardship support schemes the town hall has set up since the beginning of the pandemic.

“The council is fully focused on making sure residents and businesses get the help and assistance they need to see them through this crisis.”

Around £360,000 will be used to provide food vouchers for children eligible for free school meals, as well as families who are required to shield and those with disabilities and other vulnerabilities.

An estimated £110,000 will be used to purchase between 500-600 laptops and ensure that children missing school have access to the internet.

An emergency Assistance Grant has also been set up to help struggling residents with food and supplies.

The council has also used Government grants worth around £2.3million to reduce or suspend council tax bills for those on the lowest incomes.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the council is set to have shouldered an additional £43 million in costs and experienced a loss of income of around £19 million.

Even with government grants, there will be an estimated shortfall of around £9 million by the end of the financial year.