Councillors at a cabinet meeting last week were asked to:

• Review the delivery and learning from the Cost of Living support programme 2022/23 and 2023/24;
• Agree the allocations proposed for temporary funding in 2024/25,
• Agree the extension of the Community Recovery Funding flexibility into 2025/26.

Council leader, Councillor David Ross, welcomed the decision made by cabinet members. He said: “So many people in Fife are still reeling from the early days of the cost of living crisis and while things may have slightly stabilised, far too many people are still struggling just to cover the essentials for living. We don’t think that’s acceptable.

“In Fife we have been working hard with our community partners to try to off set the worst of the crisis through a range of supports and dedicated funding.”

“The decision to continue our Cost of Living programme is absolutely the right one. The many projects we have funded are invaluable to ensuring that the people of Fife can continue to live with dignity through these difficult times. They have been a lifeline for some people.”

In September 2022, Cabinet agreed an extensive Cost of Living programme. The winter programme for 2022/23 was supported with £8.6m drawn from Covid grant carry forward, council revenue budget allocation and balances. The programme continued beyond that winter with support provided in winter 2023/24 and into the current financial year. Additionally, £10m was allocated in 2022/23 for Community Recovery. £9m divided between the seven Areas Committees, for them to make local decisions on spending, and £1m for Fife-wide responses.

Councillor Ross continued: “As we move forward we need to move from support to prevention. We are looking at projects which can help people well before they reach crisis point. The priorities and proposals for 2024/25 will take us to a more focused prevention agenda, while continuing to help those in immediate need, with emergency food, fuel and crisis support. These approaches are based on the evidence and learning we have to date, from working through the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.”

There’s a range of ongoing support for the people of Fife, which includes:

• Online and face-to-face welfare advice and support, to make sure people are getting the benefits they are entitled to.
• Help with fuel and energy advice
• Help with food
• Community hubs where people can meet and get support from trained staff
• Help in a crisis
• Help with household goods and items
• A range of supports for families to help with the cost of the school day

Go to the website for more information on, and support with, the cost of living.