Forest of Dean District Council working to help people through cost of living crisis

Leader of Forest of Dean District Council, Cllr Tim Gwilliam said:

“This winter will be especially challenging for many of our residents across the Forest of Dean and will affect people who may not have experienced such issues before.

“The costs of everything are rising for us as a Council, for our local businesses and shops and of course for every household in the Forest of Dean.

“We all wish we could do more, we all wish we didn't have hard decisions to make just to get through, but we do and those hard decisions will be mirrored throughout the district.

“As a Council we are committed to helping our residents and local businesses as much as we possibly can and have been working with partners to ensure that help is distributed where it’s needed so that we can all make it through this cost of living crisis.

“Remember, it’s okay to ask for help. It's massively important not to suffer in silence. Instead, let organisations know as soon as you realise that you're hitting troubled times. There's no shame in reaching out. These are difficult times and we all need to understand as a community, as friends and as family that people from all walks of life are going to need a little help.

“Details for organisations that may be able to help can be found on the Council’s dedicated cost of living web page and we will continue to communicate and advise on how you can find support should you need it.”

Since April this year, Forest of Dean District Council has so far distributed almost £340,000 to local causes, organisations and residents throughout the Forest as part of the Household Support Fund to help those most in need. 

As part of this funding, over £50,000 has been provided to local causes with £22,500 being provided to the Forest Baby Bank to support parents across the Forest, £10,000 issued to Salvation Army and over £18,000 issued to the Forest Food Bank and Lords Larder at Newent to assist Forest of Dean residents with food and essentials this winter.

The Household Support Funding received from the Department for Work and Pensions has also allowed the Council to distribute supermarket vouchers totalling almost £140,000 to selected households in receipt of council tax support or pension credit, as well as directing £80,000 at fuel poverty.

Deputy Leader of Forest of Dean District Council and Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Paul Hiett said:

“The cost of living crisis will have a profound impact on many households  and by distributing over £340,000 to people across the district we want to help as many people as possible receive the support they need.

“The work being done by our Communities Team with local groups and organisations will help people from across the district during these difficult times and I’d like to thank all of the officers involved and ask that anybody looking for assistance, please get in touch and find out what help we can provide.”

Alongside providing funding to local organisations, the Council’s Communities Team have been working with community organisations, local village halls, schools and others to help those interested register as Warm Welcome spaces. 

Warm Welcome spaces are free spaces provided to local residents by sites across the district to assist those who are unable to afford to heat their homes this winter, with eleven warm spaces currently registered through towns and villages in the Forest of Dean.

If any local organisations are interested in becoming a Warm Welcome Space, or if residents would like to find out more about their nearest space, please click here: https://www.warmwelcome.uk/ 

To find out more about the help that is available, through Government, or the District Council, please click the link below for our dedicated cost of living pages: https://www.fdean.gov.uk/council-tax-and-benefits/help-if-you-re-struggling-with-living-costs/