Cornwall Council has been allocated an additional £1.7million of Government funding as part of extended Covid Local Support Grant Scheme.
The Government’s COVID Local Support Grant, first introduced in December 2020, has been extended through to September bringing it in line with the end date for furlough and other COVID-related support. This is beyond the planned ending of restrictions, to help families get back on their feet as the economy recovers and the vaccine rollout continues.
The grant was introduced in December 2020 to create new programmes of support tailored to people’s needs in their area. The funding is ring-fenced so that 80% is used to support families with bills for food, key utilities and other essentials.
Signing off plans for Cornwall Council’s distribution of the funds was Cornwall Council’s Leader Cllr Linda Taylor.
Linda said:
“I am delighted to see these funds awarded to Cornwall Council from the Government, and pay tribute to Cornwall Council’s officers for getting a plan to use them turned around and ready to go in such a short space of time.”
“These funds will be used to support those families who are most in need at this difficult time and I look forward to seeing the council work with local partners, including the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure it is spent well and targeted appropriately.”
At least 80% of the total funding will be ring-fenced to provide support with food, energy and water bills for household purposes, and up to 20% of the total funding can be used to provide support with other essentials clearly linked to the scheme conditions.
