£800,000 cash boost to support Derbyshire residents struggling amid virus crisis

Derbyshire County Council has received a £0.808m Local Authority Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

This money will be allocated to a number of local Derbyshire organisations who work directly with some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Cabinet member for communities and health, councillor Carol Hart, said: “Funding is geared towards meeting immediate need, to help those struggling to afford food and other essential supplies.

“The funding will take the form of either direct payments to residents or supporting advice and information given to help people in the longer term.”

The Derbyshire Discretionary Fund (DDF) – Derbyshire’s existing local welfare assistance offer – has supported residents during Covid-19 with the service seeing a rise in applications of 38 per cent.

The DDF will work closely with other community partners to continue to provide support to Derbyshire residents.

Grant allocations that have been announced so far include £50,000 for the VCS county shopping service and buddy system. Funding will help to develop a county wide approach to shopping for vulnerable/shielding residents in the event of a second wave.

A total of £51,000 has been awarded to Derbyshire Law Centre. Funding will support an eviction advice service.

A grant of £40,000 will be given to Rural Action Derbyshire. Funding will support a school holiday food program

North East Derbyshire District Council will receive £25,000 to help support vulnerable populations and £5,000 funding will help provide face masks/coverings for those in financial difficulty.

These grants are in addition to the following activities that were previously agreed in August, including £158,000 towards emergency food parcel distribution.