Proposals to target financial support where it makes the biggest difference

Next week, Cabinet Members will discuss plans to build on last year’s cost of living support, while making sure money is spent where it makes the biggest difference.

Councillor William Brown, Leader of Barnsley Council, said: “Over the past year, the council introduced a range of support to help residents with the cost of living. This included school uniform vouchers, Year 11 support packs, as well as allowances and travel support schemes to residents who received Council Tax support.

We’ve been working with officers to understand the financial pressures the council face. We want to move away from one-off, universal payments and instead offer more targeted and flexible support. To do this, we’ll use more external funding from Barnsley Council’s £4.7 million allocation of the government’s new Crisis and Resilience Fund to help our residents.

Our approach also means we can spend taxpayers’ money wisely, use external funding where possible and focus support where it will have the biggest impact. This is in line with the conditions of the fund, which is designed to help prevent financial crisis in the first place.”

Focusing support on key school years

If approved, school uniform support would be focused on families with children starting Reception and Year 7, when costs are highest.

Around 5,500 children are expected to benefit each year, with vouchers of £50 for primary pupils and £100 for secondary pupils. The scheme would be available to eligible families living in Barnsley.

A new approach to cost of living support

The proposal also sets out plans to move away from one-off payments and instead offer more targeted and flexible support through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund.

This national fund, managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), runs until 31 March 2029. It replaces the previous Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments. For 2026/27, Barnsley has been allocated £4.7 million.

The fund will help low-income households facing unexpected costs. It will also support activities that help people better manage their money and cope with future financial challenges.

Residents can explore support available to help with the cost of living at barnsley.gov.uk/MMIYP. More information about the Crisis and Resilience Fund is available on the council's More Money in Your Pocket webpage.

The report will be considered at Cabinet on Wednesday 15 July. You can view the papers on the Barnsley Council website.