Thousands of north Oxfordshire households will receive £100 food vouchers in time for Christmas.
Published: Monday, 14th November 2022
Last month Cherwell District Council’s executive committed to provide the support to households experiencing hardship as part of a package to address the cost of living crisis.
An initial fund of £250,000 has now been topped up to £354,200, meaning that the council can give vouchers to all 3,542 households who get housing benefit.
People don’t need to apply for the vouchers; they automatically qualify if they were in receipt of housing benefit as of 5 October and will receive a letter from the council to walk them through the next steps.
Councillor Phil Chapman, Food Champion and Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities, said: “Although Oxfordshire is a prosperous county Cherwell district contains some areas where people experience real hardship. We can’t ignore the fact that the pressure on their budgets will only intensify as the cost of living increases into winter.
“There is no need for the qualifying households to apply, but we ask people who get housing benefit to look out for an important letter from us in the post.
“I am very pleased to be taking this proactive step and hope it will make a real difference to thousands of households in time for Christmas.”
Everyone who is eligible will receive their letter, starting from the end of November, and will be able to download their vouchers immediately using the HUGGG website.
Eligible households who cannot download their vouchers online will be invited to call the council and alternative arrangements will be made.
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