Trafford Council supporting families and vulnerable adults

Trafford Council is supporting families and vulnerable adults over the Christmas period as it launches the start of the distribution of the Government’s national Winter Grants programme.

All children in receipt of a free school meal will be automatically awarded a £30 supermarket voucher from a range of stores, including an online offer, via their school before the Christmas break.

The £30 is per child and covers the two week school holiday period (£15 per week). The Council is encouraging low income families and vulnerable adults who will not be receiving an automatic award, to apply for a supermarket voucher online via the Council’s Trafford Assist scheme here.

In addition to support with food, the Council is also offering support to those who are struggling to heat their homes. The Council’s Trafford Assist scheme has a range of support for fuel costs to cover the variety of utility provision in residents homes. We urge those struggling to heat their homes to complete the online application form.

The extra support forms part of a £588,000 winter funding package for Trafford from the Government’s national Winter Grants programme.

Cllr Tom Ross, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Finance and Governance, said:

“Trafford Council recognises that this is a very difficult time for families as we head into the Christmas holidays. It is very important that those who are entitled to support are able to receive it as quickly as possible and that is what we are trying to achieve.

No families in the borough of Trafford should be struggling to heat their homes or feed their children and I am proud to say we are supporting families with this financial aid”

Anyone requiring support to complete the online application form can contact the Trafford Community Response Hubs 0300 330 9073 and choose option 4 for Trafford.

The Council would like to remind all its residents that information and advice is at hand through its Community Response line and it’s six community hubs can provide the following support:

  • Access to food
  • Help to get essential medication
  • Help with fuel (such as gas and electricity)
  • Help with loneliness and social isolation
  • Employment and skills advice
  • Well-being check-in-calls
  • Debt and poverty advice
  • Mental health support

Meanwhile, Trafford Council is asking that businesses and individuals who wish to help struggling families should do so via the Trafford Crisis Fund. Trafford Housing Trust, on behalf of a partnership of other organisations including Trafford Council, set up the Fund to help those struggling in our communities. If you would like to donate or have any ambitions to be a fundraiser – please visit the just giving page here and get involved. The money is distributed to local organisations that can directly support the people that need it most.

Posted on Thursday 10th December 2020