Sponsored by
Help groups to receive more council funding
ORGANISATIONS providing help and advice to people in Rotherham during the credit crunch may be given more funding from the local authority.
At a meeting of Rotherham Council's Cabinet committee it was agreed that further grants should be distributed to enable organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Age Concern to continue helping the most vulnerable people in the town. So far the council has committed 92,000 out of the 250,000 pot of money that
was put aside in March to help during the current economic crisis.
This figure will now rise to 163,653 after the cabinet committee agreed a further package of financial support for organisations that had seen a "huge increase" in cases.
The committee heard that a total of 3,190 extra clients had been given assistance during the past three months with the help of extra reserves from the council and NHS Rotherham.
The Citizens Advice Bureau has seen a 261 per cent increase in cases compared with last year, and has now been able to set up a dedicated phone line as well as gaining benefits worth 70,000 for its clients.
The Kiveton Park Independent Advice Centre saw an extra 80 clients in one month and Age Concern dealt with 231 extra clients, as well as carrying out 22 per cent more home visits than previously.
Further projects are currently being considered by council officers, including investment in a volunteering scheme and additional funding for debt advice services.
If these projects gain approval it will bring the total financial commitment by the council to just over 248,000.
The council's Cabinet member for resources, Coun Ken Wyatt, said: "These organisations are doing a marvellous job with very limited resources.
"They always deliver excellent help and advice but it is particularly vital that their services
continue during this current crisis.
"We have evidence from them just how busy they are so if we do not provide them with this additional financial support, then unfortunately the impact of the credit crunch will only get worse for a large number of individuals and families."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Three-inch blanket of snow heading our way today
- Alan Shearer in list of favourites for Leeds and England jobs: Latest odds
- Barnsley’s Keith Hill invokes Fawlty Towers over link with Leeds job
- McCormack feels United search can be narrowed down
- Redfearn throws down gauntlet as queue builds at Elland Road
- Rival chips in with £500,000 to restore the original Harry Ramsden’s
- Visit from Princess as Serbian culture celebrated
- SportsTalk: Leeds United’s manager search, Super League and Calcutta Cup
- Libraries aren’t like supermarkets, they are magical places where dreams begin
- Strategic review will lead to job losses at Yorkshire Bank
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
