£100k earmarked to support Rotherham's vulnerable

Rotherham Council says demand for crisis food has continued to rise

More than £100,000 has been earmarked to support vulnerable residents in Rotherham from next year.

The council said the bulk of the money would be used to provide crisis loans, with the rest supporting food banks.

It said the demand for crisis food was nearly three times higher in the area than it was in 2020.

If the plans are approved by councillors next week, organisations will be invited to bid to work with the council in delivering the support.

Plans included allocating £60,000 to enable the authority to continue providing interest-free crisis loans of between £40 and £120, it said.

A further £34,0000 would be spent on infrastructure to supply food banks and an additional £10,000 would support a food-in-crisis scheme, the council added.

According to the Local Democracy Service, a report to councillors said that in March 2020 demand for crisis food and other support significantly increased as the country entered the first Covid lockdown.

It saw almost 20,000 food parcels being issued in 2020-21, a 342% increase on the previous year.

The subsequent cost of living crisis had continued to see demand for help outstrip supplies.

The proposed budget of £104,000 a year from 2024 to 2027 for crisis support is due to be discussed by councillors on 15 November.