How St Helens Council has helped people in the cost of living crisis

From soaring energy and fuel bills to rising costs of food and everyday essentials, it has been a struggle for many residents and businesses just to keep their heads above water.

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With high levels of deprivation in St Helens Borough, certain residents have really felt the pinch of the crisis and have needed external support in order to heat their homes, feed their families, or sustain their businesses.

Aware of the problems facing the borough during the cost of living crisis, St Helens Council has joined forces with local organisations to offer extra assistance to residents and the most vulnerable.

How has the council been supporting residents?

Vulnerable residents have particularly struggled with the cost of living crisis (Image: Archant)

As the cost of living crisis began to make an impact across the borough, St Helens Council created a Cost-of-Living Action Group with representatives from the NHS, police, housing associations, food banks, community centres, schools, and sports clubs.

This was to "identify where support is needed" and work together with different organisations to support the most vulnerable.

Identifying those most in need of financial support, this allowed the group to signpost eligible residents to the different government grants that have been handed out throughout the past 12 months, providing a much-needed boost to people's finances.

This has seen residents get discounts on their energy bills, boosted benefit payments, and funding to retrofit their homes to become more energy efficient.

Public buildings across the borough operated as 'Warm Spaces' during winter, including Garswood Library (Image: Contributed)

As residents felt the double whammy of increasing energy bills and a freezing cold snap in winter, the council also opened libraries and public buildings as 'Warm Spaces' over the winter months for people to keep warm in a community setting.

A drop-in event was also organised at St Helens Town Hall earlier this month, offering residents free, confidential, and impartial advice during the ongoing crisis, as well as support and signposting to help deal with financial pressures.

Statement from St Helens Council

Leader of St Helens Council, Cllr David Baines (Image: St Helens Council)

Speaking about the support for residents during the cost of living crisis, St Helens Borough Council Leader, Councillor David Baines said: 

“Recognising the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on our residents, we have been working with a range of partners to deliver national relief schemes and ensure that local support and advice is in place and accessible.  

“We created a Cost-of-Living Action Group with representatives from the council, NHS, police, housing associations, food pantries and food banks, churches, community centres, colleges, schools, and sports clubs to identify where support is needed and how we could work together to support the most vulnerable.  

“We have established Warm Spaces across the borough where people can go to for support, with the aid of partners in the faith and voluntary sectors, including Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action. 

"These hubs are a lifeline to many local people, providing warmth, food and drink, signposting to financial support and energy saving advice, as well as activities to improve mental health and wellbeing and reduce social isolation.  

“Thanks to the effort and support from local voluntary and community groups we now have at least one Warm Space in every ward.  

The council has signposted residents to further financial support throughout the crisis (Image: Stock)

“Our Affordable Warmth Team, Food Provision Team, Revenues and Benefits Team and Wellbeing Service attended the sessions to provide advice on how to keep warm for less, what benefits they may be entitled to and how to keep fit and healthy during the winter months.

"Local partners such as Job Centre Plus, Citizens Advice, Credit Union, United Utilities, Job Centre Plus, and Torus attended our larger sessions to provide advice on managing bills, and how to enhance their prospects.  

“And recently we partnered with Job Centre Plus to host an event at St Helens Town Hall where 20 local partners attended to provide support. 

“In November myself, all councillors, and dozens of representatives from the local public, private, faith and voluntary sector wrote to Government with clear asks to help residents with the cost-of-living crisis, and setting out the urgent need for fair funding for essential services.

"In early February we received a response which made clear additional support was not coming, but despite our plea falling on deaf ears we will continue speaking with one voice and working together for the good of the whole borough. 

“The cost-of-living crisis isn’t going away anytime soon, with energy bills due to rise again in the future. We will be putting plans in place to continue to support residents and ensure those most in need can remain warm, safe and healthy.”  

A dedicated page has been set up on St Helens Council's website where residents can find out how to get help on a range of cost-of-living topics. For more information, visit: www.sthelens.gov.uk/sthelenstogether