Latest news with #MiddlesbroughCouncil
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
£1.31m to be allocated to vulnerable families and young people in Middlesbrough
A fund of £1.31m is to be allocated for vulnerable families and young people in Middlesbrough. The next phase of the Middlesbrough Priorities Fund will distribute funding to 14 different practical schemes. That's according to a report by Mayor Chris Cooke to be considered by Middlesbrough Council's Executive at a meeting on Wednesday, July 16 next week. The one-off, high impact projects include offering grants from a £150,000 pot to help schools buy books, sports equipment and support performing arts activities. A further £60,000 would be used to support the Tees Valley Multibank, a vital service based in Middlesbrough that helps struggling families with essentials like clothes, bedding, hygiene products and school uniforms. Middlesbrough works as part of a Tees Valley-wide regional team to ensure no one goes without, with the Multibank working directly with large companies to redistribute surplus products. READ MORE: Notorious beggar 'didn't know what he was doing' as he asked people for money in town centre READ MORE: Mum of neurodiverse triplets sets up autism-friendly piercing parlour Mayor Cooke said: 'This fund is all about changing lives in a real and practical way and puts children and hard-working families at the heart of what we do. Investing in our schools means pupils can take part in sport, enjoy music, and feel proud of their achievements. And the Multibank is helping people with the basics - the things every family deserves. Too many people live in poverty in Middlesbrough, but the Multibank helps to take care of the basics and gives our families hope for the future." The full £4.36m Priority Fund has been made possible due to extra government grant funding which is only guaranteed for one year and therefore cannot be built into regular day-to-day spending budgets. The first phase of investments was announced in November and included funding for the Middlesbrough Childhood Enrichment Team and extending school holiday events and meals for children. This latest tranche of projects includes £100,000 to help create a targeted Homeless Intervention Team which will work closely with 10 of the town's most vulnerable people, helping them into housing and support. And an investment of £370,000 to creating an in-house tree management team within Middlesbrough Council would improve safety and reduce the need to use external contractors. Other projects proposed include: £200,000 for a programme at Middlesbrough College to help young people not in education or work (NEETs) get back on track £75,000 for MUSINC, providing new musical instruments and boosting access to lessons £32,000 for the IRIS scheme, training GPs to spot and support victims of domestic abuse £15,000 for energy assessments for local community and faith buildings, helping them cut bills and become more sustainable Funding for a further Trading Standards Officer to crack down on unsafe and counterfeit goods and a Financial Investigator to improve the outcomes of criminal cases and debt recovery. Mayor Cooke added: 'We're making smart investments with this fund and every penny goes into making Middlesbrough a fairer and stronger place. This is about real people and solving real problems - now that we've got a grip on the Council's finances, we're in a position to invest and improve the lives of our residents.'
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Middlesbrough food waste bins rollout on track, council says
A council's plans to introduce extra food waste collections are making "good progress", after a previous garden waste rollout was labelled a "calamity".Middlesbrough Council said the scheme to introduce free food waste bins in April 2026 was on track, with about 50,000 food bins set to be delivered to residents.A previous introduction of a new garden waste service in the town in spring 2024 saw issues arise over distribution council's executive member for environment and sustainability, Peter Gavigan, said a fleet of vehicles had also been obtained for the new service. Labour councillor Gavigan said in a report: "We have procured our fleet of vehicles, designed our collection rounds and are currently working with our procurement colleagues to procure a company to deliver approximately 50,000 caddies to domestic properties across the town."The food caddie bins are being introduced as part of the government's Simpler Recycling scheme, which aims to create great consistency in recycled items around the country. 'Worst recyclers' As well as food waste pick-ups beginning from April 2026, existing recycling collections will Council's director of environment and community services Geoff Field told the Local Democracy Reporting Service in February the town would no longer put their recycling in one bin, after stating it was one of the worst in the country for recycling. "Everyone will be getting a different receptacle sometime in 2026 to collect that paper and cardboard separately to the other recycling," he said. Gavigan's report added that the council was awaiting approval to go weekly with recycling collections in 2026 to ensure they conformed with the regulations introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).Middlesbrough's garden waste collection currently stood at 20,129 subscribers with a total bin count of 22,692 bins at residential properties, generating about £856,420, Gavigan said. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents oppose sheltered housing plan
Concerns have been raised over plans to turn a former care home into sheltered accommodation. New Walk CIC is turning the site on Burlam Road in Middlesbrough into supported housing for vulnerable individuals in the town. Some residents said there had been a lack of consultation, while others have raised fears about possible crime or anti-social behaviour. New Walk CIC said the site would have 24-hour staffing and it welcomed any constructive objections from residents, businesses and elected members. Middlesbrough mayor Chris Cooke said that as the care home already had a level of planning permission, a new planning application was not required for the sheltered accommodation. He said he found this "difficult", adding: "Regardless of the legalities around the planning requirements, it's up to the companies to make sure that they engage with the residents nearby and make sure that they do consultation openly." Local resident, Thelma Clark, 57, said the lack of consultation was "outrageous" and that she worried site would impact local house prices. Another, Eric Holland, 58, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he was worried about an increase in burglaries in the area if the project went ahead. Jane Jorgensen, 62, said: "We should know what's on our doorstep." New Walk CIC said it had been working on the project since April 2023 and had been in extensive consultation with Middlesbrough Council over the plans. The location of the project was changed in June 2024 after a previous site fell through. "Support for the new location was secured from the local authority before proceeding," a spokesperson said. They said each resident would have a support worker and that the site would help vulnerable individuals. Middlesbrough Council said it was committed to helping homeless and vulnerable people and that there were was a need for more supported accommodation. "We are working closely with the provider at the new facility, who are committed to ensuring its residents engage with the wider community in a positive way," they said. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Care home in special measures for breaching rules Middlesbrough Council New Walk CIC
Scottish Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Simple tool reveals exact date thousands of Universal Credit will see big payments boost in weeks
Scroll down to find out how much the different elements of Universal Credit have risen by BENEFITS BOOST Simple tool reveals exact date thousands of Universal Credit will see big payments boost in weeks A SIMPLE tool reveals the exact date thousands on Universal Credit will receive a pay rise. Benefit payments rose by 1.7% on April 7 in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) level of inflation for September 2024. This is common governmental practice and ensures people's benefit amounts keep up with the cost of living. However, while the new rates are already in effect, some on Universal Credit will have to wait longer until they receive new bumper amounts. This is because the benefit is assessed based on your circumstances each month, known as an "assessment period", but paid in arrears. This means payments you receive each month are based on your circumstances in your previous assessment period. The new Universal Credit rates came into effect after the first full one-month assessment period, which started on or after April 7. For those whose assessment periods started after April 7, their payments rose as early as May 13. However, anyone whose assessment period started before this date could be waiting until June 12 to get the new higher rate. Check out our searchable table above which reveals when you will get the higher rate based on your assessment period. NEW UNIVERSAL CREDIT RATES Here is a full list of the new benefit rates for 2025-26 to give you a steer as to what you should expect to be paid. Universal Credit standard allowance (monthly) Single, under 25: £316.98 (up from £311.68) Single, 25 or over: £400.14 (up from £393.45) Joint claimants both under 25: £497.55 (up from £489.23) Joint claimants, one or both 25+: £628.10 (up from £617.60) Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence Extra amounts for children First child (born before April 6, 2017): £339 (up from £333.33) Child born after April 6, 2017 or subsequent children: £292.81 (up from £287.92) Disabled child (lower rate): £158.76 (up from £156.11) Disabled child (higher rate): £495.87 (up from £487.58) Extra for limited capability for work Limited capability: £158.76 (up from £156.11) Work-related activity: £423.27 (up from £416.19) Carer's element Caring for a severely disabled person at least 35 hours a week: £201.68 (up from £198.31) Work allowance increases Higher work allowance (no housing): £684 (up from £673) Lower work allowance (with housing): £411 (up from £404) OTHER UNIVERSAL CREDIT NEWS Councils across England have started dishing out help after receiving funding through the Household Support Fund (HSF). And some are distributing support to those on benefits including Universal Credit. Middlesbrough Council has started issuing payments worth up to £120 to those in need. Meanwhile, households in Reading are in line to receive £125 vouchers in the coming weeks if they receive free school meals, which are paid to families on benefits including Universal Credit. Each council in England decides who is eligible for a portion of funding individually. However, in most cases you'll qualify for help if you're struggling to cover essential bills like energy and food. Some local authorities are giving out help to those on benefits like Universal Credit, while others are assessing people's eligibility purely based on income and not factoring in benefits. Contact your council to find out what help is on offer. You can find what council area you fall under by visiting Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Universal Credit households can get cost of living boost worth over £60 in weeks
Middlesbrough Council has started dishing out help to residents to help with energy bills, food and other essential costs and will be "releasing" it in phases over the coming few months Households claiming Universal Credit can get free vouchers worth over £60 to help with the cost of living in the next few weeks. The help comes from the Government's Household Support Fund scheme. Running since 2021 and managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the scheme has given local councils pots of cash to support struggling households in their area. Each authority decides how it wants to spend the money, and help can range from free cash payments to supermarket vouchers. Middlesbrough Council has started dishing out help to residents to help with energy bills, food and other essential costs and will be "releasing" it in phases over the coming few months. From May, households that do not claim any DWP benefits - including Housing Benefit - can apply for a £100 voucher. The entire payment - or just part of it - can be paid directly into your Council Tax account, which can help "free up" money to spend on other things such as energy and food. From July, households with children who meet the free school meals eligibility criteria will also get vouchers worth £60 per child. If you have two children, this means you could receive £120. The council will send vouchers automatically, based on schools' records. Households can also apply for one of these vouchers through the council's website if they don't get free school meals, but are claiming one of the following benefits: Council Tax Reduction Income-based Employment and Support Allowance Housing Benefit Income Support Pension Credit Universal Credit From November, households on benefits without children can apply for a £45 voucher if they are single, or a £55 voucher if they are in a couple. Older households in Middlesbrough not eligible for Winter Fuel Payments also qualify for free £100 payment this winter. Letters will be sent to households who may be eligible in November with applications opening in the same month. More details and updates on Middlesbrough Council's cost of living scheme will be shared over the coming few months. You cannot claim this support if you do not live in Middlesbrough. However, you are able to claim help from your local council through their own Household Support Fund scheme. Due to this system, it means it can be a postcode lottery for the support you can get. Local councils have started to share what help they will offer for this year's Household Support Fund which is running until March 2026. Each council's website details its support offerings alongside its eligibility criteria. Usually, it has a separate cost of living tab that details the help on offer. Each council will also have a different application process for the scheme. Some ask you to apply online, while others ask you to apply over the phone. Some councils are also reaching out to those eligible directly
