Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council has announced that they are supporting residents through a boost for vital services.
With the cost of living crisis continuing into the winter months, the recent £3 million support package that the council has put into vital services, they are now looking to support residents by providing assistance with financial problems.
The Support and Inclusion Team was originally established during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide tailored support, signposting and referrals for residents who were in need of assistance beyond one-off crisis support. With the ability to offer emergency vouchers for food, energy and childcare, the team is also able to provide referrals to the food bank and the Oldham Warm Homes Scheme alongside looking into the underlying causes of financial difficulty.
Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Leader of Oldham Council, said:
“The current financial situation isn’t getting any easier for our residents and we know more people will sadly fall into crisis through no fault of their own.
“This is even harder for people on lower incomes who can only stretch their money so far before there is nothing left for them to spend.
“That is why we are are making investments in vital services, like our Support and Inclusion team, as part of our We Can Help campaign, to ensure we can provide more help to residents and to support them in finding lasting solutions to their problems.
“So, if you are struggling to manage your money and cannot cope with the cost of living crisis, please come to us for help as saying nothing can sometimes make your financial situation worse.”
With the cost of living crisis leaving residents at risk of debt, or risking those already in debt with becoming worse off, they are able to access assistance with addressing their debt problems, as well as budgeting advice, help with claiming any welfare that they may be entitled to and support with general well-being such as mental health support. This is done through developing relationships with residents over time, thanks to regular check-ups, allowing the residents to build trust and, in some cases, choosing to contact the team directly if they fall back into difficult situations.
Last month, over 1,300 residents contacted the council’s helpline which is an increase of nearly 500 people compared to the same period in 2021.
