cost of living .jpg Thirty-five groups, all helping improve the health and well-being of residents struggling to make ends meet, are set to share almost £130,000 worth of community cost of living grants. 

Part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Communities Fund, two types of cost of living grants were available to eligible groups who are,

• Helping those who are struggling to buy nutritious food to help improve health and well-being and build resilience. 
• In need of a contribution towards their own rising energy bills to help keep their welcoming and warm centres and halls open across the county. 

Councillor John Cottee, the county council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said he was pleased with the response to the fund’s second round. He said, 

“We are proud to continue to offer these grants, given that community groups, voluntary organisations and parish councils do so much to help communities thrive. Many people are still struggling with living costs, plus we know that many groups themselves need a helping hand towards high energy bills. 
 
Councillor Matt Barney, the county council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health added, 

“These groups work tirelessly to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. This money can help make a big difference to make sure more people have access to nutritious food and other support.” 

A third round of community cost of living grants is due to open later this autumn. 

The 35 groups who have benefitted include:

• Broxtowe Community Projects, Beeston will receive a total of  £9,481.
£5,000 of which will go towards its work providing food parcels for those most in need and £4,481 towards its energy costs.

• Carlton Youth Centre, Carlton in Lindrick near Worksop receive a total of £10,000 which will be split between its food and energy costs. The Centre delivers regular sessions which offer advice and support for young people as well as providing food and hot meals for those who are most vulnerable.
 
• Eagles Nest Church, Killisick, near Arnold receive a total of £9,950 to fund two separate projects. £4,950 will help start up a new food club at Killisick Community Centre and £5,000 will help fund a breakfast club which operates three times a week during the summer holidays, providing a hot breakfast, activities, and a packed lunch for families who need it. 
 
• East Leake Village Hall receive £5,000 to go towards paying energy bills for its warm and welcoming hall which is well-used by the community.

• The Tin Hat Centre, Selston £5,000 will go towards costs for a new community garden which will offer a space for people to come together, grow fresh fruits and vegetables, learn gardening skills, provide an educational space for younger people as well as growing food for the Centre’s food bank and café which offers free meals and cooking sessions. 

• In Sam's Name, based in Worksop, is a peer support group for men who are 18+ suffering from mental health issues within Bassetlaw and the wider Nottinghamshire area. Funding worth £5,500 will predominately go towards food costs for a new monthly social eating event which includes cooking courses and will also help with energy bills.

• Bilsthorpe Emergency Team is a project which aims to improves the availability of affordable and nutritious food and to help reduce loneliness and improve mental wellbeing in the community. Funding worth £3,000 will go towards new recipe bags and food to further improve access to food for those who need it the most. 

• Mansfield-based Family Action receive a total of £ 24,295 towards its support for five separate food clubs which include Bellamy, APTCOO, Crescent Primary School, Mansfield Woodhouse and Oaktree. All five clubs aim to help vulnerable and low-income families by offering advice and tips on cooking on a budget, food preparation skills, eating healthily, cooking as a family, planning a personal budget, and more (£4,859 for each project).

A full list of those groups who have benefitted is available here: Decision Details: Local Communities Fund - cost of living (nottinghamshire.gov.uk)

As part of the council’s investment in cost of living help and support, the council’s benefits team has been expanded to offer a full range of cost of living advice, information and guidance as well as encouraging more residents to come forward to claim the benefits they are entitled to.

A series of free, face-to-face advice sessions with a benefits adviser are soon to be  available around the county. These are drop-in sessions so no need to book. 

• Hucknall Library, South Street. Fortnightly on Mondays from 14 August. 10am-12pm
• Trowell Court Community Centre, Mansfield, Fortnightly on Wednesdays from 26  July. 9:30am-11:30am
• Harworth & Bircotes Town Hall. Fortnightly on Thursdays from 27  July. 10am-12pm
• Cleveland Close Community Centre, Carlton in Lindrick.  First Tuesday of each month starting 1 August. 10am-12pm
• Newstead Community Centre, Tilford Road. Fortnightly on Tuesdays from 25  July. 10:30am

For online financial support and advice, check the council’s dedicated cost of living support page www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/business-community/cost-of-living-support

ENDS