To seek member approval for the distribution of winter grant funding from central government to provide targeted financial support to families in need this winter.
The purchase of a £20 food or fuel voucher for each care leaver, to the value of £3,140 such that vouchers and/or gifts and/or food can be provided to care leavers not in receipt of vouchers through the free school meal voucher offer. Such grant will be provided on terms to be agreed by the Director of Children’s Services and in accordance with the grant criteria set out in the report.
A grant of
up to £4,200 be made to the YMCA Young Carers support service
such that vouchers and/or gifts and/or food can be provided to
young carers not in receipt of vouchers through the free school
meal voucher offer. Such grant will be
provided on terms to be agreed by the Director of Children’s
Services and in accordance with the grant criteria set out in the
report.
A grant of £21,000 is made available to Citizens Advice for them to use to financially support households with fuel bills over the winter period. Such grant will be provided on terms to be agreed by the Director of Children’s Services and in accordance with the grant criteria set out in the report.
£25,000 of the funding to be allocated for the delivery of
Holiday Activity and Food Schemes and for grant applications to be
invited to identify organisations able to provide such
schemes. Approval of individual grant
awards to organisations from this £25,000 allocation will be
brought to a future Cabinet Lead Member decision date.
To delegate approval to the Director of Children’s Services to approve community grant awards to organisations delivering services that meet the criteria of the grant (as set out in paragraph 5 of the report) for targeted financial support for those in need over winter in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Skills up to the value of £145 000.
To delegate approval to the Director of Children’s Services to approve the reallocation of any winter grants scheme remaining funds to organisations delivering services that meet the criteria of the grant in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member. This will ensure that where spend does not meet the approvals set out in this report, the Isle of Wight Council can rapidly adapt the approach to ensure needs are met.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Significant impact on communities or those working in two or more electoral divisions;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 25/11/2020
This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.
Reason for urgency:
The government have recently provided councils with additional funding for vulnerable children & families over the winter period-specifically for food/water and energy bills. The funding (£456k) was announced last week and due to the need to set this support up in time for the Christmas break we will need to provide a report to Cllr Brading, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services by 9 December 2020, so that he can make a decision on the distribution of funding.
Decision due: 9 Dec 2020 by Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Lifelong Skills (archived 9/10/23)
Lead member: Councillor Paul Brading, Deputy Group Leader paul.brading@iow.gov.uk
Lead director: Assistant Director of Children's Services (Children and Families)
Contact: Sarah MacDonald Email: sarah.macdonald@iow.gov.uk.
Consultees
Questionnaire to schools and early years
setting. Task and finish group involving range of stakeholders
including representatives of the voluntary sector, Citizens Advice,
Children’s Services.
Making Representations: Representations are to be received by 5pm on Tuesday 8 December 2020. All representations must be sent to Delegated.decisions@iow.gov.uk or they may not be considered as part of the decision-making process.