City council leader Adam Hug in the food front line on his visit this week

ONE million pounds to support food aid charities and financial advice for struggling people was announced this week.

It is the latest tranche of a £20million pot the city council says it has made available through its cost of living programme.

But the latest announcement could be the last, with the government set to pull the plug on the HSF household support fund – funding the council relies upon for its community pot programmes – in March.

Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug has written to the chancellor ahead of the budget calling for a change of heart.

He said: “There is uncertainty around the future of the household support fund and cost of living fund. This makes it harder for us to plan and get the best value for every penny and is worrying for local communities who will face greater costs if this support goes.

“The cost of living crisis is continuing and, while we continue to support local people, we urge the government to confirm this support will continue.”

Cllr Hug was speaking during a drop-in event at the St Vincent’s Family Project in Victoria.

He met Andrew Varley, chief executive of the food aid project, who said bonus grants from the city council had “enabled us to expand our food provision and to reach more families in need”.

And he added: “We have been providing support for families and children in Westminster for over 20 years, and we have seen the impact of the pandemic and the rising costs on their wellbeing and resilience. Our centre offers a range of services, such as parenting courses, play sessions, therapy, food parcels and vouchers, and a community kitchen.”

The centre in Victoria runs activities every weekday for parents and their young children and has been supporting families since the 1970s.

A Westminster resident who receives help sourced from the HSF said: “Support from North Paddington Foodbank has been a constant lifeline. Having a safe space for my children, getting to choose what my children get to eat, is a feeling that I can’t fully express. And it’s not just about food, but things like shampoo, toothpaste, washing powder, basics that I often have gone without, or worry about when they are going to run out.

“I am now in a position where I can think about a future for me and my family, something that I did not think would be possible.”