LUDLOW MP, Philip Dunne, has welcomed an additional £2m of government funding for vulnerable households in Shropshire for the coming winter.

As part of a £500m Household Support Fund, Shropshire Council will receive an additional £2,088,795 to support local households who need additional support this winter.

Councils can make allocations through small grants to meet daily needs, such as food, clothing and utilities.

This new fund will run over winter and those in need of support are being told that they contact Shropshire Council to help them access the funds to help them get by if they are struggling to cope as energy and fuel prices rise and the furlough scheme has ended

This fund bolsters support from the Warm Home Discount, which provides a £140 rebate on energy bills each winter to over 2.2 million low-income households, and the Cold Weather Payment which provides £25 extra a week for poorer households when the temperature is consistently below zero.

“While this week we had welcome confirmation of more people moving off welfare and into work as the economy recovers, I know there will be local families who require additional support this winter,” said Mr Dunne.

“So I am pleased the government has made an extra £2m available to Shropshire Council, who can use the funds to support those most in need in our community, helping to meet the cost of daily essentials.

“This week the independent Office for National Statistics published their latest data on unemployment, which showed that unemployment in South Shropshire has fallen for the seventh consecutive month, and remains below the national average.”