£5million is being invested across West Dunbartonshire

More than £5million is being invested across West Dunbartonshire to support those hardest hit by the cost of living crisis.

West Dunbartonshire Council is investing the sum as part of an initiative to support families, the elderly, carers, those with additional support needs, vulnerable households and local businesses.

The pioneering scheme will see a range of different projects launched to assist with rising costs including the creation of a £1million Cost of Living Fund.

The fund will initially be used to provide an additional £1000 per week to West Dunbartonshire foodbanks; free summer swimming for school pupils; free all-inclusive family leisure memberships from July to August for vulnerable families identified by Working4U; free West Dunbartonshire Leisure gym memberships over summer for 14-18 year old pupils; and support for the Recycle Room in Clydebank, a community group which takes unwanted items and redistributes to those in need.

Other investments being made through the initiative, which was outlined as part of an emergency motion to Council, will include the creation of a household energy fund of £250,000 and an innovative partnership with major energy suppliers to ensure residents experiencing significant levels of fuel poverty receive support and early intervention to maintain their utility supply.

Targeted community bulk uplifts and grass cutting will also be undertaken where families do not have the funds to pay for these items in addition to litter picking to clean up communities.

An investment of £1million will fund free access to activities for children during school holidays, with a further £1million of capital earmarked to support community groups and voluntary organisations with their own cost of living initiatives.

And a range of information will be highlighted to residents through Council channels to ensure they know how to access support including how to check they are receiving all income they are entitled to including benefits and grants.

The motion also detailed a range of support planned through West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership budgets, subject to approval at their Integrated Joint Board meeting in August.

The assistance incorporates a £1m help for carers package, including respite to support unpaid carers, kinship carers and foster carers.

Additional funding for employees in the welfare rights service will ensure residents are well supported with advice and guidance around budgeting to help mitigate the cost of living crisis.

In addition to the above, councillors indicated their intention to abolish £1.5m of non-residential care charges later this year, covering the loss of income through the Health and Social Care Partnership’s unearmarked reserves.

The details of the plan were outlined to members at a recent meeting of the Council, where it was unanimously approved.