Residents in need are to receive additional support after Bolton Council was allocated millions to see them through the next year.

The sum is from the Household Support Fund (HSF) of which the period between now and March 2024 is the fourth round since the fund was announced by central government a year-and-a-half ago.

In this round the council was allocated £5,560,000 and this week the cabinet approved how this is to be spent on residents in need. 

Authorities are allowed to spend the sum at their own discretion, although there is guidance, and these authorities are asked to focus on additional support with energy bills and food bills in particular.

The largest amount, more than £2 million, is to be spent on supermarket vouchers for residents with children on free school meals.

And more than £1 million is to be spent on Local Welfare Provision (LWP), which offers one-off, short-term support in the form of food and other essentials such as travel costs or top-ups to meters.

Of the remainder, the council allocated £400,000 to Bolton's Fund, from which charities and other organisations can bid for funds.

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There is £150,000 for a Care and Repair Service to assist residents with boiler maintenance and boiler replacement, £150,000 for a Money Skills Service to assist residents with their finances, and the same amount to be split between carers and care leavers to help them with their energy bills.

There is £100,000 for warm spaces, or 'warm banks', to return over the winter and £60,000 for Discretionary Housing Payments.

Lastly, the council set aside £100,000 for administrative costs and set aside more than £1 million as a contingency fund to be allocated at a later date.

At the time of the previous round, Bolton Council leader Martyn Cox said: "The Household Support Fund is designed to support residents who are struggling with the rising cost of living.

"It is right councils have been given discretion on how to spend their allocation, as we are best placed to understand local needs and local priorities.

"Our allocation has been targeted at supporting children on free school meals, helping households pay essential costs and setting up a network of warm banks.

"We are lucky to have many outstanding charities and community groups, and some of our HSF money has been allocated via Bolton's Fund to help them support residents in need."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.