£5m cost of living programme to open warm spaces in libraries

Birmingham City Council has agreed a £5 million programme to help residents and businesses through the cost of living crisis, including a network of warm spaces starting in the city's libraries.

The Cost of Living Emergency Programme was approved by the council's cabinet on 11 October, a month after council leader Ian Ward declared a cost of living emergency in the city.

Where the money will go

The initial £5 million will come from the council's resilience reserves and will be spent on five priority areas: improving advice for residents, with a focus on helping people claim the benefits they are entitled to; improving energy efficiency to cut costs; increasing the supply of food through food banks across the city; creating a network of warm spaces, starting with libraries; and supporting the council's own staff.

The council will also run a campaign with community groups and charities to let people know what help is available.

"Extremely serious"

Councillor John Cotton, cabinet member for social justice, community safety and equalities, said the situation remained extremely serious.

"Birmingham has over 300,000 residents already living in poverty, with many more highly exposed to the crisis. Even after the Government's announcement on energy prices, energy bills will still double compared to last year," he said.

"Added to high levels of deprivation there is a high density of poorly insulated homes across the housing market. Of the top 13 constituencies in the country for fuel poverty, six of them are within Birmingham."

He said the council had already added £1.3 million to the government's Household Support Fund earlier this year to help families and older people. "This undoubtedly helped people, but we know that more support is needed to help people this winter."

"A pandemic-level response"

Cllr Ward said: "As I said when I declared a 'Cost of Living Emergency', every person in every part of this city will be affected in some way or another. While we have already taken pro-active steps to support our communities with the cost of living, the negative effects of this crisis will be with us for some time and it therefore requires a pandemic-level response."

He has also written to the Prime Minister, on behalf of a coalition of leaders across the city, asking the government to work with Birmingham and back its proposals to ease the effects of the crisis.

A winter of worry

Prices have been rising at their fastest rate for 40 years, driven largely by soaring energy costs. The government has introduced an energy price guarantee to cap the unit price households pay, but bills are still far higher than they were a year ago, and food prices are also rising sharply.

Warm spaces, where people can stay warm for free without having to heat their own homes, are being set up by councils, libraries, churches and community groups across the country. In Birmingham, libraries will be the first to open their doors as warm spaces, with more expected to follow as the weather turns colder.

Anyone who is struggling is being urged to seek advice, as many households may be missing out on help they are entitled to.