Town hall bosses approve £4.1m household support fund plan

Tuesday, 22 April 2025 13:37

By George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter

Food banks, warm homes and food vouchers will all benefit from £4.1m in Rochdale.

Town hall chiefs have approved how they will use the latest round of HSF cash in the borough. The council received £4,119,569.63 to be spent between April 2025 and March 2026 – a reduction of £555,198 from the last round of government funding.

The money is generally used to support households that would otherwise struggle to buy food, pay essential utility bills, or meet other essential living costs. But individual local authorities choose how to actually spend the money.

Rochdale Council’s cash will go towards food e-vouchers for children during school holidays; short term assistance for families struggling to buy food; supporting households with utility bills; helping re-stock food banks and community centres; prevention work in vulnerable areas; and the Christmas toy appeal.

Coun Sue Smith, portfolio holder for communities and cooperation, welcomed the funding allocation at the meeting in the council’s headquarters, Number One Riverside.

She told the meeting on April 17: “I think we held our breath and it was a massive relief when we were told we got this funding again.

“It is a £550,000 reduction so we have to make changes but we can still support those families in need.”

The plan was wholeheartedly approved by the cabinet, with council leader Coun Neil Emmott saying ‘we never say no to money’.