COVID: £450,000 for Peterborough groups supporting most vulnerable during pandemic

In total, £463,562.40 is being handed over by Peterborough City Council to four groups.

The money is going to:

. Citizens Advice Peterborough - £294,790.68

. Kingsgate Community Church (Care Zone) - £95,771.40

. Cambridgeshire Community Foundation - £20,000

. Peterborough Council of Voluntary Services (PCVS) - £53,000.

The vast majority of the funding is being provided by the Government through the Winter Support Grant and Local Welfare Assistance which is being topped up by money from the local authority.

A council report outlining the funding states: “Citizens Advice report that they have seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 related issues leading to benefits issues, growing debt, rent arrears, court action and potential eviction and homelessness which in turn impacts on family life, relationships, wellbeing and mental health.

“People who remain employed may still be facing reduced income and financial pressures. Many of those in work do in fact work in poverty and are not able to earn enough to feed and clothe their family and pay utilities and council tax, let alone pay their rent.

“Without support these people will end up in crisis and at risk of homelessness and the need for statutory support.”

Kingsgate Community Church operates the Care Zone scheme and also provides the management and infrastructure for a network of food banks.

Care Zone takes furniture donations from private companies and the public and repairs/recycles them to eligible households who lack basic items such as beds, sofas and tables and chairs.

It also provides essential white goods and electrical items such as washing machines and fridges.

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation delivers the Stay Well project across Cambridgeshire which is funded by the county council.

The scheme was previously delivered in Peterborough but this ended last year due to financial pressures, however, it is now being proposed that it returns in the city over the winter months to help mitigate financial hardship that the pandemic has caused and may lead to people not being able to afford to heat their homes.

Grants of up to £300 will be provided for future energy costs.

The money for PCVS will enable it to increase capacity within the voluntary sector by recruiting five workers to meet rising demand for emergency support and help deliver the Winter Support Grant.