Plymouth councillors are urging anyone struggling with the rising cost of living to use the wide range of support that is available in the city.
The Council is working with partners to support residents struggling with the rising cost of living and has created a cost of living hub on its website to make it easier for people to find useful information and resources available both in the city and nationwide.
The Council’s online hub includes information about:
- Support available to help with housing, food and energy costs
- Where to find financial advice, for example about debts or budgeting
- Mental health services
- Employment and skills support
The refreshed online hub, which initially launched in June 2022, also now includes a map of warm, welcoming spaces across Plymouth. These spaces, which include libraries, churches, community centres and businesses, all offer a safe place for people to spend time in as the weather gets colder.
Organisations that wish to offer their buildings as a warm space can now register to be added to the map.
Council Leader Richard Bingley said: “We know that the increasing cost of living is a real concern to many Plymouth residents which is why we have created this online hub on our website that pulls together all of the help and advice available in one place, so people can quickly and easily find the support they need.
“We are also using our latest round of funding from the Government’s Household Support Fund to offer direct help with food and energy costs for those most at risk in the city, including low-income families and single adults, people with disabilities and people at risk of homelessness or who are living in temporary accommodation.”
Councillor Rebecca Smith, who chairs Plymouth’s cost of living task force, said: “The hub came about as a result of the work being carried out by our cost of living taskforce, which has brought together organisations from across the city to work collaboratively as we tackle this challenge, providing practical support and identifying new approaches we can take to support local people.
“The rising cost of living is an issue that is affecting many families in Plymouth and we know it is a worrying time for everyone. We want people to know that there is a wide range of advice and practical support available, and where to find it.
“We’ll be adding information to the hub regularly.”
Find the cost of living hub at plymouth.gov.uk/costofliving.
The Plymouth hub is in addition to the Government's Help for Households campaign, which is a great source of information too.