• Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article
We Are South Devon
Advertisement
  • Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article
No Result
View All Result
We Are South Devon
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article

Council urge residents to seek support in cost of living crisis

WASD by WASD
July 13, 2022
in Community News
Staying healthy over the Jubilee weekend

The council is urging residents to seek support sooner rather than later, as the cost-of-living crisis takes hold.

The council has recently set up a Cost of Living webpage containing useful information for people who need help managing their money.

RelatedPosts

The Real Abbot’s Way

Devon community centres urged to grab energy efficiency boost

Torbay’s young unsigned musicians – recognised and promoted In a new partnership

It has information about local groups and organisations offering support and explains how to apply for money from government schemes.

Cabinet will get an update on Turning the Tide on Poverty at its next meeting this evening.

Turning the Tide on Poverty is Torbay’s approach to tackling inequalities in the Bay that lead to poorer health in people who are affected by poverty.

The report states that these inequalities have been made worse over the last couple of years because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

The report reveals that:

  • 18.7% of Torbay households are classed as “workless”, and wages are below national and regional averages. Higher earning residents tend to work outside of Torbay.
  • Torbay has an above-average proportion of households in private rented accommodation (25%), with 60% of these receiving Housing Benefit.
    One third of all children (and half of all Free School Meal eligible children) are not “ready for school”. We also have high rates of cared-for children.
  • The gap in life expectancy between most and least deprived areas is eight years.

Turning the Tide workshops held earlier this year with community groups heard that more hands-on support is needed, particularly with foundation life skills such as budgeting and cooking.

The Sustainable Food Partnership is a council initiative which has been running a project called Cook, Eat and Chat, a series of free cooking workshops aimed at feeding families on a budget.

A four-week course is currently underway, and more are planned for the summer.

Working in partnership is key to tackling inequality in Torbay. Members of Torbay’s Cabinet and senior leadership team met with approximately 25 faith group leaders recently to develop stronger partnership work on this agenda.

The council will continue to fund the Community Builders, who play a key role in developing communities and informing them of services to help them overcome disadvantage.

The council helps residents with debt advice through funding it makes to the community helpline.

In addition, the council offers crisis support, discretionary housing payments and financial hardship payments so that people can keep a roof over their heads.

It works closely with groups like the Torbay Food Alliance to assist people struggling to pay their food bills.

The council’s updated draft Housing Strategy is due to be published in the coming weeks which will set out how it can deliver much-needed homes for Torbay residents.

Councillor Darren Cowell, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “We want everyone in Torbay to have the best chances in life – a decent standard of living, quality housing and good health.

“We were just starting to build back after the pandemic when the cost-of-living crisis hit.

“We work directly, and in partnership with the voluntary and community sector, to support people who are at greatest risk from rising living costs, which we know can have knock-on effects for their health and wellbeing.”

Councillor Christine Carter, Cabinet Member for Corporate and Community Services, said: “The important thing is that people access this support from early on so that problems can be sorted before they get worse.

“It won’t be long before we’re entering the autumn period, when the effects of fuel poverty will be most felt by many people.”

Whilst you’re here:
Did you know we rely on local businesses and the community to help keep us online? Our community website is an alternative to the mainstream media – For the people, by the people. You can help us stay online by becoming a supporter on Facebook. In return, you will have access to exclusive content. Click here for information.

You can join us on our social media pages, follow us on Facebook or Twitter and keep up to date with whats going on in South Devon.

Got a news story, blog or press release that you’d like to share or want to advertise with us? Contact us

Related Posts

The Real Abbot’s Way
Community News

The Real Abbot’s Way

July 12, 2025
Devon community centres urged to grab energy efficiency boost
Community News

Devon community centres urged to grab energy efficiency boost

July 11, 2025
Torbay’s young unsigned musicians – recognised and promoted In a new partnership
Community News

Torbay’s young unsigned musicians – recognised and promoted In a new partnership

July 11, 2025
Award-winning children’s authors Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre announced as partners patrons of Libraries Unlimited
Community News

Award-winning children’s authors Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre announced as partners patrons of Libraries Unlimited

July 11, 2025
Rebecca Smith MP welcomes major defence investment as Helsing announces UK’s first resilience factory in Plymouth
Community News

Rebecca Smith MP presses Defence Secretary for promised £4bn funding pot, benefiting local defence businesses

July 11, 2025
Junior doctor strikes set to cause major disruption to NHS routine care
Community News

Train to be a nurse with the class of 2026

July 11, 2025
  • Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article

© 2023 We Are South Devon Brought to you by Griffiths Networking

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an article

© 2023 We Are South Devon Brought to you by Griffiths Networking