A £4 million package to help support communities with spiralling energy bills and the Cost of Living Crisis has been approved by North Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet. 


The wide-ranging measures will focus on providing extra payments to more than 3,000 families on low income while developing a much-needed scheme to help people reduce their energy bills.
Council Leader Marie Burns said: “There is no greater priority for us as an authority right now than helping people through what are likely to be difficult months ahead.
“The measures approved by Cabinet are aimed at supporting our communities through these challenges, protecting, in particular, families on the lowest incomes.
The  package will include £2m for an energy support scheme which aims to offer advice and support to help people lower their energy bills, as well as practical help to install energy-saving features in homes. 
Two separate Scottish Government Child Bridging Payments of £130 for families of children who are eligible for a free school meal - due to be distributed in October and December - will be topped up by a further £100 per child for both months. 
And there will be £500,000 to build on the existing community food network to ensure basic food provision is available to anyone who requires the support, recognising the growing membership and the anticipated increase in demand.
SNP Cllr Tony Gurney, pictured above, added: "The SNP Administration in North Ayrshire approved over four million pounds in extra help for our citizens to tackle child poverty, food poverty and fuel poverty. This will be in addition to the millions of pounds from the Scottish Government."