TEIGNBRIDGE families and residents struggling to make ends meet will be able to apply for help under a new Household Support Fund which launches tomorrow (Monday) and runs until March 31.

The council has teamed up with Citizens Advice Teignbridge to help make sure that support can be provided as quickly as possible to those across the district who need help.

The new fund – part of £5 million the government has allocated nationally via upper tier authorities to provide rapid short-term financial support to the economically vulnerable – will be used to help households in most need with food, energy and water bills as well as other essential living costs such as clothing, bedding, fridges, freezers or cookers.

In exceptional cases money from the fund can be used to help people struggling to manage their housing costs and who are not covered by existing support schemes

Unlike previous grant funding there are no nationally imposed eligibility rules and no cap on the amount a family in need can receive.

Each application will be considered on its merits with anyone living in Teignbridge eligible to apply provided they are aged over 16 and unable to meet their immediate short-term financial needs.

Teignbridge Executive Member for Communities, Housing and IT, Cllr Martin Wrigley said: ‘This fund will provide support to those who have been hardest hit during the pandemic and are still facing financial hardship as a result.

‘Our aim is to support people as quickly as we can and I would encourage anyone in financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic to apply to the fund for support.

‘I’d like to thank Citizens Advice Teignbridge for partnering with us to help deliver this money to people in need across the district.’

The new Household Support Fund replaces the Covid Hardship Fund and a simple streamlined online application will go live on Monday (November 15) to make it easy for those who need rapid support to apply.

By involving Citizens Advice Teignbridge, the council hopes to be better able to target support to those already known to be in need of help.

Devon County Council led the bid for a share of the government funding.

Councillor Roger Croad, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: ‘It is clear that the coronavirus pandemic is continuing to put a huge financial strain on some people and the effects are likely to be felt for some time still to come.

‘We are committed to supporting people in Devon experiencing hardship and have worked with our colleagues in the district councils to ensure that this money gets to the people who need it most as quickly as possible, so if you need help I encourage you to get in touch.’

Anyone unable to apply online from Monday can call Citizens Advice Teignbridge on its dedicated Household Support Fund number (01626 326123) or can call the customer services team on 01626 361101 (Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm. Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm).