Local people in need will benefit from more warm spaces, community cafés, social groups, practical advice and emergency financial support thanks to a £100,000 investment being made by Milton Keynes City Council.
Allocated from the Government's Crisis Resilience Fund, the money will help parish and town councils expand initiatives that provide everything from a welcoming place to spend time and meet other people, to guidance on managing household bills or finding work.
Many communities already offer trusted local spaces where residents can get practical help, meet others and stay connected. This new funding will help those services reach more people, ensuring residents can access support close to home when they need it most.
The investment will be used for a range of initiatives including warm spaces during winter, cool spaces in the summer, community cafés, social clubs, and other local activities that help tackle loneliness.
Parish and town councils will also be able to expand services offering advice on budgeting, debt management and finding work.
Most of the funding has been allocated based on local levels of need, directing additional resources to communities facing the greatest challenges. A further allocation will fund a local voucher scheme, enabling parish and town councils to provide immediate support with essential everyday costs for residents experiencing financial hardship.
"For many people, knowing where to turn during difficult times can have a huge impact. As the weather becomes colder, community spaces and local services become even more important. Whether someone needs financial guidance, wellbeing advice, a place to meet others or access to wider services, this funding will allow parish and town councils to build on the fantastic work already taking place across Milton Keynes. By investing in local organisations that know their communities well, we're making sure residents can find the right advice, practical assistance and opportunities close to home."