Help is at hand for anyone struggling

As a councillor and a leader, I always aim to be actively in touch with residents so I can understand the daily issues that they may be facing. 

I am fully aware that many people are struggling from a financial perspective right now, with the costs of energy, food, fuel and just about everything continuing to rise. I know this because people write to me and they tell me when they see me. 

I want to assure everybody that help is at hand. I fully support recent announcements from Government aimed at helping people financially, such as the £100 fuel payment and the rise in state pension and child benefit, along with the removal of the two-child limit on child benefit introduced earlier this year. The upshot is that residents should have more money in their pockets because of these changes and more. 

Here in Peterborough, we're doing our bit too and are excited about our new 'Here to Help' platform on our website. It's still being tested before its official launch at the end of the month, but it's now available to use on our website. 

We know that people can find it hard to find the right support, so we have developed the tool to help people find early help and community support and to discover activities in their local area. 

It works just like any other chatbot, but it is a local tool for people in Peterborough built with safety in mind. It can help people to find financial support, housing advice, support for families, carers, older people, support with employment, and things to do for families and people of any age. 

It holds just under 10,000 pieces of local information - so a huge range of things that can help people to be happy, healthy and to get involved in what’s going on in the city. Once launched, it will be another great AI tool alongside OSCAR, Hey Geraldine and the Bridgit Carer App. 

In addition, we’ve upped the Crisis Payment Scheme Award amount to £150 for individuals and £300 to households; the Money and Benefits section of our website has more details, please go and have a look. 

We're holding a Careers Fair at Sand Martin House on Wednesday 18 November from 1pm until 3pm and between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. 

The Careers Fair is free to attend and all are welcome to come along, meet our teams and find out more about working for the council and explore the opportunities that could be right for you. 

The City College Careers Advisor will also be attending to give tips and advice on CVs, so make sure to bring yours along. There will also be opportunities to join the council's Talent Pool to register your interest and stay connected with future vacancies and recruitment opportunities at the authority. 

I am delighted that our City Link project is progressing following the discovery of skeletons back in the summer which halted work at the Queensgate roundabout. 

We are fully aware of recent issues concerning a lack of street lighting caused by the works which has been affecting nearby businesses in Cowgate. I visited The Cue Club last week to talk to them about the issues and to offer my reassurance that their concerns are being addressed. 

We know how important street lighting is in this area, particularly at this time of year with the nights drawing in, and we are actively working with our contractors M Group to resolve the issue. 

Finally, I’d like to thank Peterborough Presents for holding an excellent series of events to showcase the social Justice vision of a poet called Allama Iqbal. Their Qawwali event was well attended and makes me so proud of our amazing city and communities who contribute to it.