Islington Council announces £2.6million scheme to help most vulnerable with cost-of-living crisis

The scheme, designed by the council, will ensure all schoolchildren eligible for free school meals during term time do not go hungry over the long summer break, will help Islington’s most vulnerable pensioners, care leavers living independently for the first time, and thousands of the borough’s poorest families. 

Cllr Diarmaid Ward, Executive Member for Finance, Planning and Performance, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is a huge concern for our residents and is already putting huge pressures on household budgets, with even more steep price rises looking inevitable. 

“We are determined to do everything we can to help our most vulnerable households to cope, continue to put food on the table and pay the bills – it is our duty, as we work towards creating a more equal borough. 

“As we look ahead to the autumn and winter, we must avoid a situation where our most vulnerable residents – struggling families, our poorest pensioners, care leavers finding their feet – are forced to choose between heating and eating. 

“We designed this scheme to provide genuine and meaningful help to those who need it most.” 

The council will use around half of the £2.6million fund to tackle holiday hunger, ensuring that children entitled to free school meals continue to get healthy lunches through the half term break and summer holidays this year. These families will be given a £15 voucher per child, per week. 

 Around a third of the fund will be spent supporting more than 7,000 low-income pensioners who receive Council Tax Support, with each household receiving an award of £110. 

The remainder – almost half a million pounds – will be used to support more than 4,500 of the borough’s poorest households, and care leavers aged 25 or under, with £100 awards, equivalent to one week’s worth of essential purchases for the average household. Those who face the most exceptional housing costs will also be helped. 

Support payments will be made automatically to qualifying households, residents do not need to do anything. Payments have already started to be made and will continue through to the end of September.  

In addition, the council’s existing crisis support, including the Resident Support Scheme and other financial assistance schemes, will continue to be fully funded to help residents and households in the greatest need.  

This support follows the announcement last month of the discretionary Council Tax rebate scheme that will help more than 26,500 of Islington’s most vulnerable households reduce their bills this financial year, with all credits made by the end of August. This is on top of the Government’s Council Tax Energy Rebate credit of £150 to 68,000 households in Council Tax bands A-D. 

Notes to editor 

The funding for the scheme is made up of a c.£2.22million grant known as the Household Support Fund 2 (HSF), provided by Government, topped up with the council’s own Community Wealth Building hardship fund of £385,000. The HSF funds must all be allocated or spent by the end of September.