RESIDENTS who face the imminent threat of being disconnected from their energy supply due to encountering fuel poverty will be helped thanks to a £4m support scheme.
The latest extension to the household support fund - which first came into force in September 2021 to help the most hardest hit residents during the cost-of-living crisis - has been announced and will help those in need until March 2026.
It means Barnsley will have received more than £20m through the package over the almost five-year period and ruling cabinet members are set to accept the latest cash injection on Wednesday.
A report said: “In September 2021 the government announced a package of support to help vulnerable households with essential costs over the winter period and the ongoing economic cost-of-living crisis.
“Since then there have been several extensions to the fund, enabling Barnsley to receive £16.4m investment to support the borough through to March 2025.
“In the autumn 2024 budget, the government announced a final extension to the grant to cover the period April 2025 to March 2026, with an allocation for Barnsley of £4.1m, taking the total funding investment for the borough to £20.5m.
“The funding allocation for Barnsley is £4.1m, covering the period April 25 to March 26.
“No funding can be carried over from this or previous periods.”
The Chronicle can reveal there will be a continuation of previously-agreed schemes such as an £80 voucher, assistance for the purchase of white goods, out-of-school meal help for children and fuel poverty relief.
A new scheme will also be debuted which will provide top-ups of £49 to residents with pre-payment energy meters who face disconnection.
Coun Robert Frost, cabinet spokesperson for core services, added: “Our work to deliver support through last year’s funding helped many residents through challenging times.
“I’m confident that this new round of funding will continue to make a significant impact on the lives of those who need it most.
“I welcome these proposals and how our teams, partners and community groups can come together to support residents and families to have more money in their pockets over the next year.”
Energy prices rocketed from the end of 2021 due to reduced supply and geo-political issues - such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine - putting more pressure on hard-up households.
Latest estimates from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities suggest more than 19,000 households in Barnsley were living in fuel poverty - 18 per cent of the 111,171 households in the area.
This puts Barnsley above the England average of 13.1 per cent.
Barnsley North MP Dan Jarvis told the Chronicle: “It’s clear there’s more work to be done to improve the energy efficiency of homes locally.
“The government recognises this challenge - as part of the drive to increase the energy efficiency of properties, we must ensure that local landlords and homeowners are accessing the grants and funding available for vital improvements like insulation and low-carbon heating.
“This is something that I know Barnsley Council are working incredibly hard to do.
“It isn’t just about the comfort of a property - it’s about tackling fuel poverty, cutting bills and doing our bit for the environment.”
