Cost of living drop-in sessions to take place in March

This month, Redbridge Council is holding a series of drop-in sessions to provide practical advice and support to hard-pressed local people affected by the cost of living crisis.

Staff from Benefits, Housing, Children's Services and Work Redbridge will be on-hand to provide one-to-one advice. Staff will also be taking applications for the Household Support Fund (HSF), available to residents facing hardship who need help with essential costs such as food, fuel, essential white goods, warm clothing and bedding.

Last year, Redbridge Council launched a £2million fund to provide support and respite to some of the borough's most vulnerable residents. The council's Welfare Benefits team has helped put more than £750,000 of unclaimed benefits and support into the pockets of local families, struggling to make ends meet over the past year alone. 

There are two drop-in sessions:

• Thursday 17 March: 10am-2pm, Orchard Housing Office, Broadmead Road, IG8 0AG
• Tuesday 22 March: 10am-2pm, Hainault Library, Manford Way, IG7 4DD

There is no need to book; people can just drop in.

The Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, said: "People across Redbridge continue to face the economic impacts of the pandemic, with the government ending the furlough scheme and slashing universal credit by £20 per week. Families are now feeling the added financial pressures of soaring energy bills, spiking inflation and the snowballing cost of living crisis at the hands of the government. 

"Redbridge council has stepped up where the government has let local people down, providing a £2m fund to support those in our borough struggling to make ends meet. Our drop-in sessions are open to anyone worried about their financial situation – they're completely free, and there is no need to book."

Deputy Leader of Redbridge Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Leisure & Culture, Cllr Kam Rai, said: "We will continue to do our utmost to support the borough's most vulnerable residents. I'm proud that people can count on this council when times get tough. This was recently highlighted when our welfare and benefits team helped people claim more than £750,000 in unclaimed benefits they were not aware of.

"Staff from this team will be on hand at these events to provide advice on what extra financial support people in Redbridge could be entitled to."

More than 6,500 children received a food voucher at £15 per voucher during the October half-term, while more than 7,800 children received a voucher to the value of £33 during the Christmas holiday. As part of the fund, the council also recently allocated funding to the tune of £200,000 to local food banks across the borough.

Redbridge Council has also helped upskill and support more than 1,800 local people into employment via its Work Redbridge scheme. 

Find out more information about the support available.