Liverpool City Region set to propose new cost-of-living support programme

Today, Mayor Steve Rotheram and Liverpool City Region (LCR) have announced plans to support locals by providing over £4m to help ease financial concerns.

In a week energy prices have soared for many households, the combined authority is earmarking almost £4.7m to support the voluntary and community sector provide financial advice to people in Liverpool.

The money will be split into two payments that will assist the city during these difficult times.

£2m will be put into the cost-of-living proposal, in which LCR will partner with Citizens Advice and the Women’s Organisation to boost support for residents who have been hit the hardest.

A further £3.3m will also be spent on community activity to tackle food poverty, improve green spaces and reduce anti-social behaviour.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: ‘With the cost-of-living crisis putting a bigger strain on people’s outgoings, mental health and wellbeing, I want to do what I can to ease the burden on residents.

‘Despite the fact our government have cut more than a third from the funding they promised us, we’re choosing to invest nearly £5m to give families the support they need.

‘While national government dithers, devolution is giving local leaders the ability to step in for local people.’

The proposed cost-of-living plan is part of the city region’s wider plans to invest it’s three year £44.4m UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation.

UKSPF was created to replace European funding following Brexit and under the new agreement, Liverpool City Region is set to lose around £10.2m every year compared to its previous European Union allocation – a cut of around £37%.

Mr Rotheram has previously spoken on this issue and said: ‘The UKSPF was heralded as a ‘replacement’ for European funds, but instead, our region is set to lose millions every year.’ He said, ‘Whereas government are rowing back, we’re stepping forward to ensure no one is left behind.’

LCR has a year 1 spending target of £5.386 by March 2023 and tackling the cost-of-living crisis has been labelled as top priority.

If the cost-of-living support scheme is approved, it could start as quickly as November 2022.

Photo by Conor Samuel