Brent boosts support for families with £7.8m cost of living package

A major £7.8 million boost will help households struggling most with the cost‑of‑living, stepping in early before rising bills and financial shocks push families into crisis.

The new funding represents a £1.3 million increase on last year’s support package, up 19% from just over £6.5 million in 2025/26, and will help the council step in earlier before rising bills and financial shocks push households into crisis.

Agreed by Cabinet on 9 March, the fund will expand Brent’s preventative approach, helping families stay afloat through early intervention, practical advice and targeted financial support before problems escalate into homelessness or unmanageable debt. It also reflects a wider shift away from short term emergency responses towards longer term, preventative help that tackles the root causes of hardship.

The funding will support households with food, energy and housing costs, while also investing in services that help residents build longer term financial resilience.

Some of the key areas the funding will be spent on include:

• £2.18 million for free school meal holiday vouchers, helping children from low income families access food during school holidays
• £1.56 million for the Resident Support Fund, providing help with essentials including food, energy, water and household costs
• £1.62 million for housing payments, supporting residents with rent shortfalls, arrears and other costs that could put them at risk of homelessness
• £400,000 for Sufra’s work at the New Horizon Centre, providing food support, meals and wraparound advice

Councillor Promise Knight, Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Resident Support and Culture, said:

“We know too many Brent families are still being hit hard by the cost of living. Even where inflation has eased, the reality for many residents is that food, energy, rent and other everyday household bills are still putting huge pressure on already stretched budgets.

“That is why this extra investment matters so much. The 19% increase in funding means we can provide more help with the essentials, while also stepping in earlier with debt advice, employment support and practical guidance before families are pushed into crisis.”

If you are struggling to pay bills or manage your finances, please visit our cost of living page for help and advice.