Sandwell Council will continue supporting families of 46,000 children with vouchers during school holidays.
The announcement comes as the council confirmed how it will spend just over £6million of Household Support Fund funding over the next financial year.
The funding for April 2025 to March 2026 will be allocated as follows:
£3million on providing vouchers for pupils who get benefits-related Free School Meals – worth £130 per child, per year. Find out more about Free School Meals, eligibility and holiday vouchers.
£1.2million on helping council and private rented tenants with rent arrears and other housing costs.
£300,000 on Local Welfare Provision – helping people in crisis with food, travel costs, fuel, white goods and furniture – with changes to make more low-income working households eligible to apply for help, including residents who need help with disability equipment including wheelchairs.
£220,000 to support local food banks and food pantries.
£400,000 on supporting carers and young people leaving care.
£112,000 on providing budgeting and benefit advice through the council’s Welfare Rights team.
£462,000 on helping households with their Council Tax bills.
£30,000 on continuing to provide Welcoming Spaces.
Any remaining funding will be used to tackle future Cost of Living challenges as the council identifies them.
Leader of Sandwell Council Councillor Kerrie Carmichael said: “We’re using this Household Support Funding to put money directly into the pockets of people struggling the most.
“We’ll also be helping our partners, such as food banks, to make sure they can continue to support our residents. As a caring council, it’s our priority that this money makes a real difference to those who truly need it.
“I would urge anyone who is looking for help to visit our Supporting Sandwell information hub where there’s lots of advice and information available. Seek our help as early as you can if you are in financial difficulty – getting help sooner rather than later can save you from more worry in the long run.”
Deputy Leader of Sandwell Council and cabinet member for finance Councillor Paul Moore added: “We are committed to helping Sandwell people impacted by the Cost of Living and by allocating this money to those who need it the most, we hope to make people’s lives easier.”
Anyone experiencing exceptional financial hardship can make an application for crisis payments through the council’s Local Welfare Provision scheme.
For details of all the support available for all households across Sandwell go to the Supporting Sandwell information hub.