A NEW webpage has been created by North Yorkshire County Council to signpost residents to help with the cost-of-living crisis.

The cost-of-living webpage contains links to how residents can seek help during this challenging time.

Cost-of-living help

The North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF) provides emergency financial support to those unable to meet essential living costs such as energy bills or food.

It can also help supply basic necessities or household goods like a fridge.

Further help comes from Warm and Well North Yorkshire.

This project allows people to apply for hardship funding, or help with minor repairs to make their homes warmer.

Warm and Well can be contacted on 01609 767555 or by emailing wnw@northyorkslca.org.uk

Council tax reductions

Residents on a low income, or who claim benefits, can seek council tax reductions.

More information of this can be found here.

Money and debt

Services are also offered to provide advice on money, debt or benefit entitlement, including Citizen’s Advice North Yorkshire who provide free, confidential and impartial advice to help people find a way forward.

Children and family

Support for children and families is provided via free school meals and FEAST holiday clubs.

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are automatically entitled to free school meals, but parents and carers who are eligible for certain financial support may also be able to obtain free school meals for children at primary or secondary school. 

More information can be found here. 

FEAST activities are free to children on benefits-related free school meals and include a hot meal or packed lunch.

Government funding is available to support childcare costs including tax free childcare which is for all working families with children under 12 years old (or under 17 for children with a disability).

More information on this funding can be found here.

Digital and WIFI

Additional assistance from NYCC includes free WIFI and digital support.

20 towns, including Malton and Pickering, have a free and secure public WIFI network, which provides residents with unlimited internet access.

Over 300 computers are also available to use at county council libraries, and are free for the first hour if you are:

  • Aged 18 years or under in full-time education
  • A job seeker in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance or employment and support allowance
  • Someone whose use of computers is severely restricted by a physical or cognitive difficulty

Travel

Commuting costs can be reduced by signing up to NYCC’s Liftshare programme for free.

This scheme matches people that make the same car journeys and allows them to split the cost of the lift.

More information can be found here. 

Energy-saving

The North Yorkshire Home Efficiency Fund offers free energy-saving home improvements to eligible homeowners in the Scarborough, Ryedale and Hambleton districts.

Improvements include insulation, solar panels, air source heat pumps and high heat retention electric storage heaters, depending on property suitability.

To qualify, residents must have a household income of £30,000 or less, or receive means-tested benefits.

Find out how to apply here.

Executive member for corporate services at NYCC, Cllr David Chance, said: “We are aware that the cost of living is presently at the forefront of many people’s minds in North Yorkshire.

“To this end we have brought together details of schemes and assistance available from across the council, as well as details of other organisations who may be able to help people in immediate financial crisis.

“This includes organisations who can provide professional advice on debt, help with the cost of food and heating bills, as well as details of funding schemes to help meet the cost of insulating homes.”