Council has allocated £310,000 for fuel and food support

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has allocated £310,000 towards fuel and food related initiatives which has been used to help struggling households, older people, and children across the district.

The cost-of-living crisis has placed immense strain on households across the district, with increased food and energy prices, forcing people to make difficult financial decisions. Latest data estimates that 27% of the population in the Fermanagh and Omagh District is living in relative poverty.

In order to help address this issue, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is delivering a range of fuel and food related support measures, which are funded by the Department of Communities (DfC) and directed to those households most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.

The Council allocated £155,000 to a fuel support programme, delivered by St. Vincent de Paul and the British Red Cross. These charitable organisations have a track record in identifying and working with those most adversely affected by the cost-of-living crisis. The partnership with Saint Vincent de Paul and the Red Cross represents a targeted approach to reaching those most in need and providing essential assistance during challenging times.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have also funded a number of food related initiatives, including an allocation of £10,000 to South West Age Partnership to deliver a programme of additional food provision for older people. This programme will target harder to reach older people at risk of food insecurity and will run from January to March 2023.

Primary and secondary schools in the District have also benefitted. Almost 90 schools are availing of an allocation of £70,000 for additional food provision, with initiatives such as breakfast clubs and healthy snacks, aimed at alleviating food insecurity for the pupil population.

Additionally, financial support has been made available to several established foodbanks and other organisations in the district, for emergency food support for the most vulnerable in communities.

Speaking about the fuel and food support initiatives, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Cllr Thomas O’ Reilly said,

“I am pleased that the Council, in conjunction with the Department for Communities, is supporting our residents who are most in need due to the cost-of-living crisis.

With fuel prices continuing to remain very costly and the current cold temperatures, a bigger cost burden is being placed on already stretched household finances.

The Council is committed to ensuring that our people are healthy and well physically, emotionally and mentally. We hope these fuel and food initiatives will make a tangible difference, helping those in need to have warm homes and food.”

Further information, including contact details for the organisations in the district supporting those in need, is available on the Council’s dedicated cost-of-living page: https://www.fermanaghomagh.com/services/community/cost-of-living-help/