Additional help and support heading to Haringey families in need

Families here in our borough who are at risk of falling into food or fuel poverty and who have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will continue to be supported through the summer months by Haringey Council.
 
Following the award of almost £1m worth of additional funding (£928,310.43p) from the Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP’s) ‘COVID Local Support Grant,’ the local authority will be able to provide vital support to families with children – and other vulnerable households and individuals too – through to Thursday 30 September 2021.
 
This fourth and final round of funding from the scheme is in addition to, and an extension of, the sums awarded in December 2020, March 2021 and April 2021 via the DWP’s ‘COVID Winter Grant Scheme’* (*now known as the ‘COVID Local Support Grant’).
 
It will help prevent crisis for local families, while – in line with government guidance – all support will be available to households with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). The funding is also enabling us to provide further support to vulnerable adults known to the local authority.
 
Haringey families eligible for Free School Meals (FSMs) will be supported during the summer holidays, with FSM vouchers issued through their child’s/children’s school/s and sports and activities available via our Holiday Activity & Food (HAF) programme.

In addition, we are introducing a new project offering food and refreshments for eligible children under five as part of our libraries’ universal cultural offer over the summer. There’s also the Healthy Start vouchers, which provide extra support to families with the very youngest children.
 
Haringey Council’s Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Families, Cllr Zena Brabazon, said:

The pandemic has placed significant strain on some of our families here in Haringey who can least afford to bear the brunt of that burden. I’m therefore absolutely delighted that – at a critical time – we’ve been able to provide this further assistance, help and support to them with their food and fuel costs.

For further information about the Holiday Activity & Food (HAF) programme, see the Haringey Council website. To book your eligible child/children a HAF session this summer, click here. 

There are also a range of activities and sports sessions taking place across the borough throughout the school holidays. For more details, check out our 2021 Summer Holiday Fun booklet.