WITH winter approaching and the national economic picture becoming bleaker by the day, Kingston Council has this week launched its warm spaces to help residents face the cost-of-living crisis.

This is the latest element of our support to help residents facing financial difficulty, as the vulnerable in our communities feel the impact of soaring energy bills, inflation and colder weather most of all.

We are providing these warm spaces alongside our local partners for anyone facing difficulty. They are spread across the borough and will offer free wifi, computers, advice and guidance. Some spaces will even provide games and a free hot drink. Opening times and what is available at each venue can be found at kingston.gov.uk/costoflivingsupport

Everyone is experiencing the impact of the cost-of-living crisis in different ways and that is why the council and other local organisations are offering a full range of support. All you need to know can be found at kingston.gov.uk/costoflivingsupport

For residents feeling they are reaching crisis point, Kingston foodbanks are there to help. Our housing support officers, children’s centres, health visitors and social services can provide the referral code or vouchers needed to visit a foodbank, as can Citizens Advice Kingston and some local charities. More details can be found at kingston.foodbank.org.uk/get-help/

Kingston’s strength is that we are really good at pulling together to help people in need, so if you are able to help your local foodbank financially, with time or by donating food please visit kingston.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/

Warm winter clothing is also particularly important, especially for growing children, so donations of shoes and coats are available from our children’s centres, with further details on our website.

Ensuring the council also provides direct financial support is also very important. So far, we have distributed more than £860,000 to financially vulnerable households through our housing support fund and our financial inclusion team has continued to provide advice and support to council tenants about the cost of living crisis.

For example, our teams are ensuring households are making full use of government initiatives, such as the £150 council tax energy rebate. Over 83 per cent of eligible households have got the rebate and we are offering face-to-face appointments for the rest. We have also launched a separate discretionary fund for struggling households falling outside this scheme.

Meanwhile, our adult social care teams are providing care reviews so all service users get a financial assessment into the affordability of their care charges.

But, as our fantastic response to the pandemic proved, Kingston is stronger when working together. So much of the vital support and advice being provided at this challenging time is coming from other organisations from the voluntary and community sector, all working together.

For example, while Citizens Advice Kingston has produced a cost of living toolkit, the Voices of Hope charity continues to provide its BRITE Box initiative. This scheme sends weekly meal kits to families at risk of food insecurity. It is important that the council plays its part by helping such excellent schemes to thrive, so I am delighted that Kingston’s four neighbourhood committees are now considering proposals to provide BRITE Box with £3,000 from each of their grant pots.