Find out what Southwark is doing in response to the crisis
Supporting our residents and small businesses through the cost of living crisis is our top priority. The greatest impact falls on low income families, who spend more of their income on rising energy and food costs. We know that the most vulnerable will feel the impact most sharply but the crisis will affect most residents in some way.
The council is here to help local people through the cost of living crisis, and ensure our residents have the jobs and homes to help them thrive now and in the future.
Help paying bills
We have:
- Paid out £25m of support to local households in the greatest need through the Southwark Cost of Living Fund and other initiatives
- Helped residents understand and claim all the means tested benefits they are entitled to.
- Promoted council support services, such as the hardship fund, emergency support (including furniture, food and fuel), and income maximisation.
- Established a new Southwark Energy Advice Service helping residents find the right support.
- Kept council tax low and swiftly issued Energy Rebate payments to 100,000 residents
Warmer, greener homes
We are:
- Building 1,000 new energy efficient and affordable homes by 2026 to reduce energy costs and improve wellbeing.
- Improving the energy efficiency of existing social housing across the borough.
- Working with landlords to improve the energy efficiency standards of housing in the private rented sector.
- Tackling landlords who are failing to maintain private rented sector homes to minimum energy standards.
Right to Food
We are:
- Funding a free healthy school meal offer for all Southwark primary school pupils.
- Protecting and improving school meals by increasing funding to £2.41 per primary pupil (a rise from £1.90).
- Running Food and Fun holiday programmes of healthy food and
- activities for school-aged children and families experiencing hardship.
- Making Southwark a Right to Food borough through council policy, public health initiatives and community partnerships.
- Lobbying government to have the Right to Food enshrined in law.
More, better jobs
We are:
- Upskilling residents be creating 2,000 new apprenticeships and 3,000 new training opportunities.
- Helping residents who are struggling to find work, through Southwark Works’ free support.
- Building on Southwark’s innovative role as London’s first Living Wage borough, to encourage more employers to pay the London Living Wage.
- Producing advice and guidance for local businesses feeling the pressure of rising costs.
Find out more
There is lots of information and support available to help you through this difficult time. Find out more on our website at www.southwark.gov.uk/here-to-help, visit www.citizensadvicesouthwark.org.uk or call CAB’s free phoneline on 0808 278 7849 for free, independent, impartial advice.
Page last updated: 26 October 2022
