Help For Residents to Stay Warm This Winter

Warm and welcoming places in South Tyneside are to be opened to help residents beat the chill and the cost-of-living crisis this Autumn and Winter.

From today (Tuesday 11 October) almost 50 places will be available to either drop in or access free activities in venues across South Tyneside. This includes community centres, churches, charities, children's centres, Council buildings such as The Word and South Shields Football Club. For more details, visit https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/warmspaces

The measure is just one of the actions to come out of a Cost of Living Summit which saw representatives from 28 organisations, including the Council, NHS, community and voluntary organisations, Nexus, Northumbria Police, Job Centre Plus and faith groups, come together to see how they can effectively respond as a partnership to the crisis.

A cost-of-living directory of support is currently being prepared. This will highlight the range of support people can access ranging from food banks and debt advice to subsidised travel and energy efficiency and be available both online and in key community locations.

Representatives also agreed that an online cost-of-living support hub should be set up. This would allow the Council and its partners to see where demand is greatest and ensure all partners have access to the most up to date support for residents.

It was also agreed that more should be done to promote the Welfare Support Service which helps people navigate the benefits system to ensure they are receiving the help they are entitled to. For help with benefits, residents are asked to contact the team on 0191 424 6040 or email welfaresupport@southtynesidehomes.org.uk

Following the summit, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Tracey Dixon, has written to the Chancellor, to highlight the devastating impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on residents in South Tyneside and call for additional financial support.

Councillor Ruth Berkley, Lead Member for the Voluntary Sector, Partnerships and Equalities, said: "We know the cost-of-living crisis is having a significant adverse impact on low and middle income earners in South Tyneside. With almost a quarter of our residents living in the top ten per cent most deprived areas of the country, it is vital that the Government understands what this crisis means for real people."

Letters will also be sent to the energy companies to ask them to offer more support for those people hardest hit by soaring prices.

The Council already supports vulnerable people through donations to the Borough's food banks with more than £440,000 given since 2020/21. Going forward, the Council and its partners will consider how to support the expansion of community shops and pantries which provide subsidised food.  The Council will also consider further dedicated support  and funding to debt advice agencies which have seen a surge in demand.

Councillor Anne Hetherington, Lead Member for Adults, Health and Independence, added: "We know from Covid that we pull together as a community when faced with challenging times. The summit proved that that there was real commitment from the Council, NHS, charities and our other public and private sector partners to work together and help our residents through this crisis."

A dedicated web page has been created to offer cost of living support. Visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/costofliving