Councils to share £5m in 'emergency food aid' as living costs rise

Welsh councils will receive £4.8 million to provide "emergency food aid" and other support for people struggling due to cost of living pressures.

The cash from the Welsh government will be split between the 22 local authorities, with those in rural areas getting a premium due to "the added challenges" of delivering support to more sparsely populated regions.

Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams said rising fuel and energy costs meant many families faced another "tough winter" and she was "targeting support where it's needed most".

Reform UK Wales said it welcomed the support, but said the government could do more to help people in need.

The ongoing US-Iran war and pressures on oil supply in Saudi Arabia have caused fuel prices to spike in recent days.

With inflation increasing and energy bills going up next month , many people could feel more of a squeeze on their household budgets.

Local authorities will be able to give the emergency money to community organisations like food banks, lunch clubs and advice providers.

Down To Zero, a project which has received funding previously, grows vegetables on allotments near Llantrisant in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and provides free vegetable boxes to low income families as well as lower cost subscriptions to other households within the county.

Gareth Banks has volunteered with the organisation for two years and "absolutely loves it".

"We can offer really good value, organically grown, fruit and vegetables to local people who might not always be able to afford that kind of thing," he said.

Angharad Rogers, Cynon Taf's director of housing and communities, said food poverty was a growing problem for tenants.

"We've seen quite a shift lately in the people... who are most in need and accessing food banks," she said.

"Families with incomes coming into the household are still not able pay for food and things like that, so we're seeing a lot families coming to us and asking for help."

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