Thousands set to benefit from Swansea Council’s cost of living support

Groups and organisations providing free food for school aged children during the holidays, free or subsidised activities, or are opening their doors to offer a warm welcome to residents, were invited to apply for grants funded by the council.

The new Enabling Communities Grant aims to build on successful programmes that have made a real difference to people’s lives in recent years.

Letters have gone out this week to let applicants know whether they have been successful.

Thanks to the funding, 51 schemes providing food for school aged children during the school holidays are being supported.

The council will once again be financially supporting 81 Swansea Spaces, these are warm welcoming places where people can go to socialise.  Some spaces offer activities, refreshments or even a hot meal.

A further 107 clubs and organisations have successfully bid for funding that will enable them to offer free or subsidised activities to young people, their families and residents aged 50 and over.

These include sport, health and wellbeing, cultural and art activities.

This funding is also supporting disadvantaged areas and people struggling with the cost of living crisis including providing food, play schemes, mental health support, ALN provision, substance misuse support, young people who are risk of becoming or are homeless and projects working with minority communities.

Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart said: “During the continuing cost of living crisis we know the difference this money will make to many thousands of residents.

“I’m proud that through the new Enabling Communities Grant we are able to support school holiday food, free and subsidised activities and Swansea Spaces.

“Of course on top of this we have been running the free bus scheme for all residents and we supporting households with independent advice of their energy costs.

“We are also providing financial support for community venues and groups facing soaring energy bills this winter via our Energy Support Fund.

“These local community venues are lifelines for their neighbourhoods and voluntary groups providing much-needed facilities for services like food banks, children’s play groups and adult get-togethers.

“In total we have a package worth over £900,000 to help residents with the cost of living crisis in Swansea this winter.”

Council cabinet member for Well-being, Alyson Anthony, added: “We received almost 200 applications for the Enabling Communities Grant and we have tried to support as many as we can by allocating the full £500,000 that was available.

“All those projects that have been successful will make a real difference to so many residents this winter.”