This Summer, Nottingham City Council will give out over ?3.5million to struggling pensioners, families and the city?s most vulnerable households to help with the rising cost-of-living crisis. The funding comes from the Government?s Household Support Grant. In previous funding rounds the Government grant has been used towards a package of e-vouchers for Nottingham residents who receive Council Tax Support.

The e-vouchers will be available again this Summer and distributed in the following ways:

• To support children entitled to Free School Meals, a ?50 supermarket voucher will be distributed through their school before the Summer holidays begin. Free holiday activity clubs, with free lunches, will also available this Summer. Places can be booked here asklion.co.uk/funandfood
• To support pensioners and other vulnerable households, the vouchers will be made available through welfare advice agencies and community organisations.

It?s important that this funding and the support reaches the people who are in the greatest financial crisis. We recognise that energy or food vouchers, though much needed, are only temporary and a partial relief to people. The bigger issue is helping people to find ways to manage longer term. So it?s important that the conversations are held through welfare support agencies and charities, which can advise people about finances and the wider welfare support available in Nottingham. We hope this support will ease the strain on our most vulnerable households and help pensioners, families and anyone in financial crisis through these difficult times.

To check what financial support is available for you, including e-vouchers, please contact the welfare advice agencies listed here: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/householdsupportvouchers

Lots of people are struggling financially at the moment, if you need help visit Ask Lion | Money webpages for free support and advice.

So far 134 privately owned homes have had solar panels installed for free, through a Government-funded scheme. When the project is completed in the Summer, solar panels will have been installed on more than 650 homes across the city, which will supply their homes with renewable energy and save an estimated ?290 per year on their energy bills.

It?s great to hear customer feedback that the work has been carried out to a high standard and that they really appreciate having access to free and green energy

While this phase of the scheme is no longer accepting applicants, homeowners who live in cold homes (with a low EPC rating) and who have a household income of less than ?30,000 per year can now apply to have their homes insulated for free through the upcoming phase. Installations are expected to start this Autumn, so apply now through Nottingham Energy Partnership.

It?s reported that heating homes is responsible for about 14% of the UK?s carbon emissions. In Nottingham, we have a stretching target to be carbon neutral by 2028 and enabling local homes to be more energy efficient helps us achieve this. It?s great to see local people saving money and reducing their carbon emissions at the same time.

The cost-of-living crisis is really starting to have an impact on all of us. It?s clear that systemic change is needed to redistribute the wealth of the country more fairly. However, there is help out there that can make a difference now;

• Many pensioners are missing out on an extra boost to their income by not claiming Pension Credit - if you are of state pension age (so currently 66 or older) and have total weekly income under roughly ?200, then get online at?gov.uk/pensioncredit to see what you are due ? it could make a BIG difference.
• If you?re worried about the cost of entertaining kids this summer holidays, Money Saving Expert have got 24 FREE or very cheap ways to create magic for children this summer ? and keep an eye on the future emails for more on free events and activities this summer in Nottingham
• Struggling with energy bill debts? You could get up to ?1,500 from British Gas ? even if you?re not a customer. British Gas have a charity which helps people struggling with energy arrears to clear their debts. Find out if you?re eligible, and how to apply.