At the recent Full Council meeting, I announced how we will be allocating the £9.4 million from the Household Support Fund to assist vulnerable residents with key costs related to energy, buying groceries or paying household bills. It runs to 31^st March 2025. I wrote to you on the 16^th October with a breakdown of where this would be spent.

As part of the announced funding, you will recall that we are making £80,000 available for community supermarkets and a further £250,000 for food support groups; via food pantries, community based organisations, voluntary groups and food banks. We will be launching the Winter Food Support Fund on Monday 4th November 2024.

Please share with the food support groups/networks in your area, and encourage them to apply. Applications will be accepted for up to £2500 for food provision, based on the number of people being helped. More information and the application form can be found at this link from Monday 4^th November https://ealc.gov.uk/food-support-fund/ Please note, the link will not go live until then.

This funding will run from Monday 4th November 2024 and will close as soon as all of the funding is allocated. All grants awarded must be spent by 31st March 2025, in accordance with the conditions of the funding. 

Kind regards

Louise

Councillor Louise McKinlay BA (Hons) MSc, Prince II Certified Practitioner

Deputy Leader of Essex County Council

Cabinet Member for Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity

County Councillor for Brentwood Hutton Division