Hundreds of local families have already received support this winter, from school holiday supermarket vouchers, laptops, or other assistance such as quality food parcels, help with energy bills or other household essentials, with funding to continue to be available over the weeks and months ahead.

Last year, a new £336k fund was launched to help support hard pressed families in Richmond through the winter months.

Since it launched 3,164 children have received free school meal supermarket vouchers, including over the Christmas school holiday period. This support will continue over the weeks ahead.

Around £110,000 has also been awarded to five local voluntary groups and charities, to enable them to provide additional food parcels, vouchers etc to those most in need.

Whilst the majority of this funding will be used to support local families – there is also funding for individuals. Information is available below on how to access this funding through local organisations.

In addition, the fund has also provided assistance with food, energy and water bills with some also being available for other essentials like hygiene products, warm clothing, soap, blankets, boiler service/repair and the purchase of crucial household appliances like fridges and ovens. So far, nearly £7k has been paid to 35 local families and 100 care leavers.

In addition, since the start of the pandemic, hundreds of laptops have been given to local families, to help children access remote learning.

Cllr Brown said:

"The Coronavirus pandemic has hit vulnerable families and children particularly hard, and we know there are many residents across the borough who are struggling to feed their children and pay their bills.

"No child should be going hungry, not able to access education or living in a home with no heating or other essentials.

"Throughout the pandemic it has been our priority to look after our most vulnerable residents and we are determined to continue to use this money to make sure every child in Richmond upon Thames is protected.

"Our schools, community organisations and voluntary groups know our diverse communities well and by working with them, we can make sure this help gets to those who need it most."