Council given £5m to help struggling households

The funding is for families and individuals struggling with the rising costs of energy, food, water and other essentials

A council has been given more than £5m to help households in Devon struggling with food and energy bills.

The government has allocated Devon County Council (DCC) a share of the Household Support Fund (HSF).

The county council said it would work with other councils, voluntary and community partners in Devon to distribute the money.

Councillor Roger Croad, cabinet member with responsibility for communities, said the HSF was "welcome news to a lot of households in Devon who are struggling with the cost of living". The funding is in place until the end of March.

School holiday meals

The council said Citizens Advice Devon would be one of the recipients to receive the money, so it could continue to give fuel vouchers and help to people.

The Devon Community Foundation (DCF) would also continue to receive money, the council confirmed.

Since 2022, the DCF has distributed more than £1.3m of grants to people impacted by the cost of living crisis.

This latest round of funding enables the council to continue to give vouchers which pay for food in school holidays to families whose children are eligible for free school meals during term time.

The council said the holiday vouchers will help pay for food shopping for about 22,000 pupils from October half term until the February half term.

Pensioners and households receiving welfare benefits would also have access to the fund, the council said, as would young adults in care.