The new Council Tax year has now begun, and some people may be worried about how they’re going to pay their bill.

Some residents are eligible for a Council Tax reduction and that might include you.

The Council Tax reduction scheme is aimed at helping people who are living in low-income households by covering part or, in some circumstances, all of your bill.

If you are working, or unemployed, and fall into one of the following criteria you may be eligible for a discount.

• Have a low income or are entitled to a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions or the Pension Service.
• If you are of Pension Credit age.
• Have capital of less than £6000, if you are working age; or £16,000 for working age protected group applicants and pension age. For more information on protected working age groups use the link below.
  Protected working age groups | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Council Tax is worked out differently depending on your circumstances. For more information on eligibility criteria and discounts and exemptions for specific individuals, visit the Council Tax reduction page on the Council’s website. Council Tax reduction | Cheshire West and Chester Council

If you’re currently receiving a Council Tax discount and your circumstances have changed, please report this change to our Benefits team.
benefits@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Severn Trent Water has several help to pay schemes available to anyone struggling to pay their bill or with additional needs.

Watch the video to find out what support is available.

You can also go online to find out more and see which scheme might be best for you.
https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-account/help-when-you-need-it/

Severn Trent supplies around the Chester and surrounding area. To find out if they supply water to your location, please use the below link to check by putting in your postcode.
Find Your Supplier | Water UK

Cheshire West and Chester Council recently launched an energy saving campaign which provides residents and businesses with advice and tips on saving energy, reducing bills and helping to cut properties’ carbon emissions.

With energy prices remaining high, making properties as energy efficient as possible will help reduce bills, provide more comfortable buildings to live and work in and reduce the carbon footprint of properties across the borough.

The Council’s Energy for Everyone hub shares ways that people can make improvements to their properties to help them be more energy efficient. Advice will be added to the site throughout the year and will include both easy, low-cost energy saving tips as well as advice on projects which will help people transition to powering their properties with renewable sources of energy, such as installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Lots of energy saving projects are already taking place across the borough and the Council is keen to showcase this on the Energy for Everyone hub. Residents, businesses and community groups are encouraged to share what steps they’ve taken to help improve the energy efficiency of their properties. People can upload their stories to the ‘energy saving stories’ section or add details on the ‘energy action map’ on the hub.

Visit: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/energyforeveryone to upload your energy saving action.

The borough continues on our journey to net zero, with many energy saving projects to make west Cheshire carbon neutral by 2045. Find out more about our plan and how to play your part: View the Cheshire West and Chester Climate Emergency Response Plan online

Are you looking to get on track with your finances in 2024?

With the cost of living crisis in full effect, now more than ever it’s important to have a little something to fall back on. We encourage savings of £1 a week to help with the unexpected bill that may occur or to start saving little and often for Christmas.

What is a credit union

A credit union is a financial co-operative which provides savings, loans and a range of services to its members. A credit union is owned and controlled by the members. Credit unions are not-for-profit organisations and any surplus generated at the financial year end is put back into the running costs of the credit union or paid as a dividend to its members. As we are not owned by external shareholders the emphasis is always on providing the best service to our members and not maximising profits. The credit union is accessible to those within our common bond. A common bond is the area each credit union serves and their criteria. West Cheshire Credit Union’s common bond is for those who live, work or study within Cheshire West, Cheshire East, and Flintshire. If you fall within this, you can apply and become a member.

The Peoples’ Community Bank

Did you know saving with your credit union helps your community? The more money saved with the credit union means that we can help more people who may need to loan money to get them through difficult times. All money saved with the credit union is protected and you have access to your money at any time.

Credit union myths and facts

There are many myths surrounding credit unions, here are some of the examples and correct facts.

• Credit unions are only accessible for those claiming benefits – this is incorrect, credit unions are for everyone of all walks of life.

• We are regulated and a safe secure way to save and borrow.

• Owned by members, and members are encouraged to give feedback.

• Directors are all volunteers, and do not take any payment for their services.

• Savings stay within the local community and is managed to provide accessibility to affordable loans.

A range of saving products are available

• Saver Account – our standard account.
• Junior Savers Account – pays a competitive 5% interest.
• Payroll Scheme – saving direct from your salary.

If you are interested in saving with us, please get in touch. You can become a member of West Cheshire Credit Union by completing our online form or alternatively you can call into one of our branches and speak to someone face to face.

https://wccu.co.uk/

Head Office – 12-16 Brookdale Place, Chester, CH1 3DY (opposite the bus station).

Ellesmere Port - The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA.

A full list of Easter activities is available on the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Cheshire West web page HAF Cheshire West - Edsential

Please note all activities must be booked in advance.

Please feel free to share this information with friends and family of pupils who are eligible

The Council, alongside Edsential and a number of community partners are running a wide range of fun activities for four days of the school Easter holiday.

HAF is a national programme, funded by the government’s Department for Education, for children from reception to year 11 inclusive who are on benefits-related free school meals. It is available to eligible pupils if their parents claim has been verified by their school or local authority.

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

Edsential a Community Interest Company is working with 40 organisations, including schools, community, voluntary and faith sector organisations to organise 59 holiday activity clubs throughout the borough this Easter.

Each eligible child will be provided with a good quality nutritious meal, plus there will be a variety of opportunities for children and young people to take part in exciting physical activities such as dodgeball, dance, archery, karate, rugby, football, and even a ‘Mini Olympics’. There will also be a diverse array of enrichment activities including mindfulness, forest school, den building, campfire cooking sessions, drama, storytelling, art, and puppetry.

The Youth Service programme for 11–16-year-olds (up to 25 for our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) children and young people) will include a trip out to a range of activities including bowling, ice skating, Chester Zoo, Goals Chester, as well as events being arranged within clubs, Easter Bingo Army, assault courses, Graffiti Art and yoga.

Brio Leisure will be offering lots of activities including sports camps at Neston Recreation Centre for 5 – 12-year-olds, performing arts at Northwich Memorial Court for 5 – 10 year olds, and fun floats and sports. SEND craft sessions, will be available at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Winsford Lifestyle Centre and Northwich Memorial Court for young people aged 5 – 18 years.

Provision for SEND children and young people who are eligible through benefits-related free school meals is being offered. Some providers are able to offer paid for places for those not eligible, based on the guidance to attend their HAF programmes. This is in addition to other programmes being offered by providers more widely. We are encouraging families to check with providers whether they are able to provide support to enable attendance as well as what options are open to them around places.

The SEND-specific offer will include sessions such as multi-sports, fun floats and swimming offered by Brio, as well as provisions offering the chance to attend Chester Zoo, mini-mindfulness sessions for children and their families, a visit to a petting zoo, circus skills workshops, assisted sport (dodgeball / tennis), and sensory activities, (Lego/art).

If you have any questions about the HAF programme, please email HAF@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

As you may be aware, the government recently announced that they will be extending the Household Support Fund (HSF) for a further six months – from 1 April to 30 September 2024. Details of how the funding will be allocated will be available on the Council's website in the coming weeks.

The Household Support Fund is there to support people living in low-income households who are struggling to afford their energy and water bills, food, and other essential items. To find out if you’re eligible for support, visit:
Household support fund | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Easter food vouchers

Out of the remaining budget available from this year’s round of HSF (up to 31 March 2024) food vouchers will be provided for families with children in receipt of free school meals, for the Easter holiday period. Each eligible pupil will receive £10 per week. Schools will issue the vouchers to families in advance of the Easter holiday.

Currently, all 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours of early education per year. It’s usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.

This can be increased to 30 hours free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are: in work, on sick leave or annual leave or on shared parental, maternity, paternity, or adoption leave.

There is also 15 hours of free early education available for the most disadvantaged 2-year-olds to support the child’s development.

In March 2023, the Government announced it would be extending childcare support to include 30 hours a week of free childcare for eligible working parents of children aged nine months to three years in England. This is to support parents returning to work by reducing the cost of childcare. Parents working the equivalent of 16 hours a week or more (earning the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage) and earning up to £100k per year will be able to benefit from this offer.

Families can now check their eligibility and sign up to receive a newsletter and updates through the Childcare Choices website.

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

The roll out of the expansion is happening in the following phases

• From April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare a week (38 weeks a year).
• From September 2024, working parents of 9 month to 3-year-olds will also be eligible for this.
• From September 2025, this will increase to 30 hours a week for working parents of 9 month to 3-year-olds.

Eligible families will be able to access the new entitlements from the term after their child turns the appropriate age. You will need to apply for an eligibility code via HMRC and share this with your chosen childcare provider, to access your funded hours. You will also need to revalidate your code every 3 months.

Eligible working families with 2-year-olds can apply for their code from now until 31 March 2024 to access the new 2-year-old entitlement from April 2024.

The new entitlements can be stretched over the year depending on the number of weeks your chosen childcare provider is open. This would mean fewer hours per week are accessed over more weeks of the year, so the same total number of hours are accessed over the course of the year.

Whilst the childcare hours are free, providers can charge for meals, snacks, consumables, and additional services. Families are advised to contact their childcare provider to ask about their funded offer.

Do your bit to help save the environment, and perhaps some money too, by donating unwanted children’s fancy dress at participating libraries. All donated clothes must be clean and in good condition.

If you need fancy dress, choose from what is available in the library when you visit or come back another day. Taking an outfit for your child is free and you do not need to have donated to do so. Any items not chosen by anyone will be kept by the library, donated to charity, or recycled.

The scheme runs from Thursday 1 February to Wednesday 6 March.

Participating Libraries include Barnton, Blacon, Frodsham, Hope Farm, Lache, Little Sutton, Neston, Northwich, Sandiway and Wharton.

For opening times and locations - Find a library | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Being in debt can be a frightening situation for many people particularly if you are being pursued by creditors and penalties are mounting.

Breathing Space, also known as the Debt Respite Scheme, allows you to take time out, seek financial advice and take control of your finances.

There are two types of Breathing Space:

• Standard Breathing Space - a period of 60 days where no creditor action can be taken to pursue or enforce qualifying debts, and all interest and penalties will cease to accrue on those debts.
• Mental Health Breathing Space - entitles the person to the same as stated above but with no strict time limits until after the person has recovered from their mental health crisis. To qualify for Mental Health Breathing Space, the individual must have been assessed by an approved mental health practitioner as being in a mental health crisis.
  
  

Those seeking to enter the scheme must meet specific criteria and comply with scheme rules whilst in it. To enter, an individual will have to:

• access free debt advice from a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) accredited debt adviser
• be assessed as being in problem debt by a debt adviser
• not have already been in a Standard Breathing Space period in the previous 12 months (those in mental health crisis will be exempt from the 12-month restriction).
  
  

The debt adviser is responsible for determining the debtor’s eligibility to enter the scheme. They will also notify creditors of individuals entering and exiting the scheme.

If you feel that the weight of your debt is becoming too much to bear it’s important to seek free debt advice from a FCA accredited debt adviser as soon as possible.

Free debt advice is available from:

Citizens Advice

• Call the debt helpline: Tel: 0800 240 4420 available 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 1pm Saturday. The debt helpline is not available on public holidays.
  Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

• Talk to a trained debt adviser online using chat between 9am and 8pm Monday to Friday and between 9.30am and 1pm Saturday.
  
  

Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 240 4420 You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it.
Find out how to use Relay UK

Pennysmart – if you’re facing a financial crisis, Pennysmart can support you with budgeting, benefits and debt advice. Tel: 01244 651210