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Coronavirus: a helping hand for residents

This is where you can find information about coronavirus (COVID-19) including what you can do to protect and help yourself.

Support for families

Since November 2020, the council has brought together a comprehensive £1.9 million package that supports the families and vulnerable people who have been most impacted by the pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic continues to be a challenging time for many families in Westminster and we want to ensure that no child goes without food or warmth.

Schools and the council are continuing to work to ensure that extra support reaches families. Through the work we do in the community we have the information necessary to ensure that this extra funding package meets the most vulnerable families.

The package consists of: 

  • free school meals 

Over the Christmas, Half Terms and Easter breaks, the council delivered just under 7,000 vouchers for eligible children and young people to support families during the holidays. 

This provision will again be available over the summer holidays for all eligible families. This will ensure that thousands of families will get an extra £15 per child to help reduce food poverty and support low-income households. Schools will be contacting eligible families directly with more information on how to access this support.

  • food vouchers to low-income families 

This voucher, was distributed to more than 1600 families by the council between November 2020  and April 2021 and provided a helping hand to households that were been identified as in most need of extra support. This supported more than 3000 children over the winter period.  

  • vulnerable families grant 

Delivered through our multi-agency Family Hubs, additional discretionary support was available to identified vulnerable families. Over 700 families and 250 individuals (mainly care leavers) were supported. 

  • housing hardship fund 

We extended support for eligible council housing residents and those with housing needs through the Housing Hardship Fund for food. This was delivered by our Housing Services team on a case by case basis to tenants that were identified as needing extra support over winter.

  • other support 

This summer, we have made £500,000 available via the Holiday Activity and Food scheme to provide food and activities during July and August, for children and young people who are eligible for free school meals.

View a list of these events

Support was made available through targeted support to the youth sector (c£50,000) for food and activity based offers and support for vulnerable adults (c£42,000) through local charities and for care leavers. This included support for the two local community pantries at Westbourne Park Family Centre and the Abbey Centre.

Residents may also be eligible for help because of an emergency or a crisis, through a Local Support Payment available online. 

The extra funding was provided as part of the governments ‘Winter COVID grant scheme’ and ensured a range of grants for low-income families and vulnerable people. 

If you are worried about your own safety or the safety of your child, please contact the access team on 020 7641 4000 (9am to 5pm weekdays) or email [email protected]

Outside of these times, please call 020 7641 2388

Published: 15 January 2021

Last updated: 7 January 2022