Cost of living - help for households

We’re all worried about rising prices and the pressure that puts on household budgets. The UK Government is providing a range of extra support which will be paid to eligible individuals automatically:

•£650 Cost of Living payment for most people on means tested benefits, payable in two instalments from July (£326) and this autumn (£324).

•Households in England, Wales and Scotland will receive a £400 discount to help with the cost of their energy bill from October onwards.

•£300 Pensioner Cost of Living payment that will be paid with Winter Fuel Payments to all pensioner households across the UK.

•£150 Disability Cost of Living payment for those on an eligible UK disability benefit, in September.

•In England, there’s a £150 Council Tax rebate for 80% of households, which most households should have already received. If you live in an eligible property and you do not pay your council tax by direct debit, your local council will contact you with details of how to claim.

Depending on where you live in the UK, there are different schemes that could help support your household finances:

•Help with your bills: such as low-cost home internet and phone packages available from providers, hardship schemes from water companies, and theUK Government funded Household Support Fund available from local councils to help with essential costs.

•Help with childcare: £2,000 a year of tax free childcare is available to eligible families to help with the cost of childcare.

•Help with housing: council tax support available from local councils, help with rent and mortgage interest payments, and housing benefits are available from the UK Government.

•Help with your income: personalised job support is available through Job Help, tax relief and work-related expenses can be claimed from HMRC

•Help with managing finances: MoneyHelper.org.uk offers impartial guidance and a range of tools to help make your money and pension choices clearer.

You can find out what other support is available at gov.uk/helpforhouseholds

So proud

https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/20180977.top-award-hardworking-cockermouth-volunteers/

Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

Cockermouth Emergency Response Group (CERG) is one of 244 organisations who have been awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service this year. This is the equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups. We are delighted to have received this recognition of all our hard work and dedication, especially this being the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year. The award was originally founded in 2002 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee.

From a small group of volunteers formed to help with flooding in 2016, we have grown to over 300 volunteers, who have given of their time tirelessly with a professional attitude throughout the Covid 19 pandemic and the recovery period afterwards. These demands on our time, have meant we have had to be innovative in responding to other crises in our community. We have had to be resourceful and flexible, providing an immediate response to requests for help. We have not forgotten our original purpose, shown by our work in October 2021. The selection process for the Award was vigorous, meaning that every aspect of our operations had to be scrutinised and pass muster.

The Board is absolutely delighted with having received this honour and recognition of everyone’s hard work. We are proud to serve Cockermouth, and continue to work in the background to improve and maintain a safer community.

Our Chair, Brian Mitchelhill, one of the original founders of CERG says “This is a wonderful accolade for the work our volunteers have done over the years – and continue to do to ensure our gem town is as resilient as possible during any crisis. It is richly deserved, and I am extremely proud to be associated with such a brilliant group of volunteers.” #QAVS2022 #QueensAward2022