10 August 2020

Councils in England Receive COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Food Grants

Local authorities in England have been allocated funding to help them provide emergency assistance grants for food and supplies to people struggling due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

New guidance has been published today (4 August) to help local authorities in England manage newly allocated government funding to support people who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to COVID-19.

The Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies is in addition to the £6.5 billion of extra support the government is providing through the welfare system.

The fund is for unitary authorities and shire county councils and is paid as a grant, under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003.

Local authorities are advised to:

• Use the funding to meet immediate need and help those who are struggling to afford food and essentials due to COVID-19
• Use the funding for existing schemes and other support which deliver the same outcomes and where the need is greatest
• Work together with other local authorities to provide support and ensure the funding meets its objectives.

The government anticipates that most of the funding will be spent within 12 weeks.

Families receiving COVID Summer Food Fund vouchers are not excluded from receiving support through the grant.

A full list of the grant allocations, along with the guidance for local authorities can be found here.

Enquiries about the guidance or use of the funding can be emailed to: EmergencyAssistanceGrant@defra.gov.uk