The Department of Workers and Pensions Minister, Mims Davies, visited High Wycombe this week as part of ‘Household Support Fund Awareness Week’ amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The 48-year-old, who has been the MP of Mid Sussex since 2019, attended the town’s Buckinghamshire New University campus on October 16 where she gave food packages to students.

She was joined by Wycombe’s MP Steve Baker, the leader of the council in Martin Tett, councillor Arif Hussain and Paul Morgan, the pro-vice-chancellor at this university.

This comes after the Household Support Fund has been given £2 billion from the Government since 2021 to those struggling in the current financial crisis.

Bucks Free Press: Everyone got stuck in to try and package up some food bags for the studentsEveryone got stuck in to try and package up some food bags for the students (Image: NQ)

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This includes £12 million being allocated to the vulnerable in Buckinghamshire.

The HSF [Household Support Fund] money is also being used to provide grants to food and welfare voluntary and community support organisations, to help those struggling with the ongoing cost of living pressures.

She told the Free Press: “We’ve been packing support bags for the students to make sure they are supported amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Bucks Free Press: Steve Baker was happy to help out at the universitySteve Baker was happy to help out at the university (Image: NQ)

“It’s been brilliant to be with an array of people from the university, as this really matters.

“What we’re doing this week is to ask as many local MPs, councillors and other people to link up with their local authority to see what is available.

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“We’ve got the cost-of-living payments and the extra help, but the Household Support Fund is a £2 billion fund, which for those who are just about managing, but they may not though that this help is out there.

“It’s important that if you need somewhere to turn to, there is something local.

“I think people are sometimes proud and I also think that if you’re not in the system then they don’t know how to get into the system.”

Bucks Free Press: Mims Davies speaks to a student who was the beneficiary of a food bag. The bag contained vegetables, a canned goods and other basic necessitiesMims Davies speaks to a student who was the beneficiary of a food bag. The bag contained vegetables, a canned goods and other basic necessities (Image: NQ)

The HSF supports the council’s Helping Hand service which assesses applications for financial help and navigates residents to the most appropriate support.

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Since April this year, using the Household Support Fund money, the council’s Helping Hand service has:

Bucks Free Press: From left: Paul Morgan, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Buckinghamshire New University, a student, Mims Davies MP, Martin Tett, Cllr Arif Hussain, two students and Steve Baker MPFrom left: Paul Morgan, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Buckinghamshire New University, a student, Mims Davies MP, Martin Tett, Cllr Arif Hussain, two students and Steve Baker MP (Image: NQ)

  • Managed 5,120 applications for support
  • Helped 2,540 residents with bespoke support
  • Referred 1,709 households to local food banks 
  • Funded 1200 white goods and essential items
  • Issued nearly 30,000 free school meal holidays digital food vouchers during the May and Summer school holidays in 2023
  • Supported over 40 food banks and local voluntary organisations

Leader of the council, Martin Tett, added: “This money allows us to do so much at a time when many of our residents need extra help, and I’m very proud of the wide range of support that the council has been able to offer using the Household Support Fund.

Steve Baker MP added: “Today has been really good as we’re making sure that people are aware of the help that is available.”