Each care leaver in West Devon is to receive financial help of £1,000 this year from a £196,000 pot of government funding being distributed to support those most in need in the borough.
West Devon Borough Councillors said the “limited” Household Support Fund allocation for 2025/26 would be “spread wisely”.
This is the seventh tranche of the fund, which was introduced by the previous Conservative government to support vulnerable households with essential costs in response to the cost of living crisis.
Devon County Council received almost £9 million to use itself and distribute to district and borough councils. Plymouth, as a unitary authority, received over £4 million.
West Devon councillors were warned at their Hub Committee on Tuesday that this may be the final year the funding is available.
The borough’s 13 care leavers will receive two payments of £500, one in July and one in December. Residents with caring responsibilities and families with three or more children who are receiving council tax reduction will each receive two payments of £150.
Homemaker Southwest, which handles referrals from the council’s housing team, will receive £5,000 to fund a caseworker for one day a week, with equivalent funding being provided by South Hams District Council.
The caseworker will support residents with welfare benefit and debt issues, focusing particularly on budgeting, maximising income, increasing benefit uptake, accessing affordable and responsible credit, and completing grant applications.
Tamar Energy Community, which offers free advice to residents struggling to stay warm at home or facing unaffordable energy bills, energy debt, or problems with damp and mould, is to receive £15,000. A further £10,000 will go to the armed forces charity SSAFA to assist veterans facing hardship.
The remaining £57,000, after administrative costs are excluded, will be available through an application process. Residents will be able to request specific support if they are struggling with food or household costs, such as replacing essential white goods.
Cllr Jane Elliott, WDBC’s lead member for community wellbeing, said: “Care leavers often face life’s challenges without the family networks many of us rely on. That’s why we are going further than the minimum required, to act as any good parent would, offering practical support to help them thrive.”
She added that by supporting community organisations, the council could reach people more effectively and offer practical, personalised care.
Cllr Chris Edmunds (Con, Tamarside) said carers did an incredible job and deserved more help but was told that “hard choices” had to be made with limited funds.
Cllr Chris West (Lib Dem, Burrator), a former headteacher of a Plymouth school, said funding was too often weighted towards urban areas.
“I am really concerned that West Devon is seen as an affluent area, but we know there are areas of deprivation. We talk about rural deprivation, it is there, and we have an economy that relies on tourism, low-paid jobs, and the impact of government policy on farming, which is changing rapidly.
“We want to help our community not only to survive but to thrive.”
