Dear Residents

Staffordshire County Council have provided the following information:

Families who are struggling financially could get up to £200 financial help to pay their heating bills. This support is part of the covid winter grant scheme.

Financial support will be given to families as pre-paid meter credit or be paid directly to their energy provider to add credit to their account or to clear prior debt.

Families in an emergency situation who do not have heating, will also get portable heaters delivered within one week and a winter warmth pack including hats, scarves, blankets and gloves. Their information will also be shared with the Staffordshire Warmer Homes scheme which will help to get a long term heating solution in place.

This fund is limited and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. We know that most residents who will need support are already known to parish councils and other services. That’s why, this week we are asking you to share the information about the scheme with your councillors. We hope that councillors will encourage residents to apply for the support on a 1:1 basis or make referrals into the system before we launch the fund publicly.

Residents can apply online at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/covidwintersupport.  If residents do not have access to the internet, councillors can make referrals through the website with their permission, or they can apply over the phone by contacting ‘Beat The Cold’, a local charity who are helping us to deliver this scheme on 01782 914915.