Let’s help each other this Christmas

Hello everyone, and I hope you are all looking forward to Christmas and maybe even deciding which resolutions to make come the New Year.

Sadly, for some people this is the worst time of year. So many are alone, in poor health, or struggling to pay the gas bill, never mind buying presents.

This is why our Let’s Fix It Together campaign is so important. We are in a seemingly endless cost of living crisis, with families and individuals alike juggling their finances to meet the ever-rising price of basics.

This was evident in the cost of living advice session we held last week at the Mosses Centre, in conjunction with our many partners. More than 150 people, most of whom were not previously known to us, came to see what help is available.

We’re currently donating more than 400 special winter warmer packs to residents identified as being in particular need.

Through the Household Support Fund, we’ve provided more than £1 million in financial help to residents, with £360,000 in food and fuel support and £750,000 to provide free school meals during the school holidays, plus £50,000 to our borough’s frontline community groups.

We’ve awarded £140k to 40 community groups so far in 2023. And, working with the GM energy efficiency scheme, we’re upgrading the heating systems of more than 300 houses.

An important element of this help is that we’ve been making cash payments into bank accounts rather than handing out vouchers, which allows people to make their own choices on where exactly to spend the money.

The HSF is due to close, which we think is wrong. We are obviously not out of the financial woods yet – nowhere near it. We believe the government should continue with this support scheme for a considerable time to come. The people of Bury need and serve it.

I want to thank all the many community and voluntary groups across the borough for their hard work every day helping people on the doorstep with their needs. From food banks and charities to experts in the CAB, and those who simply took the time to knock on their neighbour’s door to see how they were.

Finally, please remember all those people who do not have a Christmas holiday. The health and social care workers, who look after us and our relatives every day of the year. The emergency services, there when we need them. And those in the retail and hospitality trades, whose job is making sure the rest of us can have a good time.

Whatever your politics, faith or inclination, I hope this festive season brings you what you wish.