A LOCAL authority is spearheading a drive to help residents with rising costs of living.

Blackburn with Darwen Council and its partners have joined together response to the rise in food and energy bills.

They have launched a campaign pointing residents to local and national services and support on a range of topics including money, homes and housing, fuel costs, food, gambling, work, and employment.

Help includes the Household Support Scheme offering assistance with utility bills, food and other essentials.

It is aimed at families with children and vulnerable people who may or may not meet the threshold for benefits with an annual household income below £21,152 for single claimants and below £31,731 for couples.

The town hall also has a Local Council Tax Support Scheme and S13A Hardship Relief fund which is considered on a case-by-case basis which covers vulnerable people including the severely mentally impaired, students, carers, apprentices, nursing home residents, and the substantially or permanently disabled.

The authority also offers flexible payment plans for council tax.

It is signposting residents who are having difficulty paying their bills to local advice services.

Cllr Mustafa Desai, adult services boss, said: “We know that residents will be worried about the increase in the cost of living.

“Our Help Hub, established in March 2020, continues to provide support to anyone who contacts us.”

Cllr Vicky McGurk, the borough’s finance boss, said: “We recently launched the Household Support Scheme to help families with their utility bills, and other essentials to help keep people warm over winter including boiler servicing and repairs.

“This help is not just available to households in receipt of benefits, and I would urge anyone who is struggling this winter to check out the council’s website.”