£2m fund to support with cost-of-living crisis

Dorset Council has created a new £2million fund to support vulnerable and disabled people and those living in low-income households. Cabinet members voted unanimously in favour of using cash from the council’s reserves to support those ‘hardest hit by the cost of living’ by making their homes more energy efficient. The funding will also go into providing off-grid energy vouchers to households that are not connected to national oil and gas systems and supermarket vouchers for residents in ‘the greatest need’. Further support will also go to Dorset’s network of social supermarkets, community fridges and food banks plus additional pre-school hours programmes for three to fouryear-olds, enabling more parents to work.

Council leader Spencer Flower said: “High prices continue to put pressure on household finances and I am acutely aware of the need to support our most vulnerable residents.”