We all know that sometimes life can throw up unexpected challenges where you need a bit of additional help.
If you're in that situation or you know someone that is, there is lots of help available.
This year we’ve set up an online hub of resources for those struggling financially, to signpost them to sources of information, or highlight where they may be missing out on benefits or aid.
One of the newer resources is our Crisis Resilience Fund, and we’ve used this to help nearly 900 people who may suddenly be facing an unexpected financial crisis.
It was set up in April to replace the Household Support Fund and will bring £3.6m a year to Peterborough over the next three years from the Government, to help people on a case-by-case basis when they need it.
In total we've helped 881 people with Crisis Payment Scheme payments of £100 or £150, depending on size of household, with help for food, essentials, furniture and appliances among the most sought-after items.
Additionally, around 400 households across the city have used our benefits calculator and of those 76% discovered benefits that they were missing out on – equivalent to a total of nearly £175,000.
Through our Low Income Family Tracker we've directly contacted 3,200 vulnerable households since March who were believed to be missing out on benefits, while alongside our partners at Green Energy Switch we have saved residents £635,000 since April through the installation of more efficient appliances, measures such as bulbs, and energy advice.
Supporting young people and helping them fulfil their potential is a key goal for our administration.
We’re actively working to develop a local youth offer which addresses the needs of young people and this now includes exciting plans for two Young Futures Hubs.
I’m absolutely delighted that Peterborough is one of just 26 local authorities to be chosen by our Labour Government for these new hubs.
The Young Futures Hubs are aimed specifically at 10-18 year olds (up to 25 for young people with SEND) to provide opportunities, support with mental wellbeing and reduce vulnerability into criminal behaviour.
This latest development comes hot on the heels of our exciting plans for a Youth Zone proposed for the Embankment and we are currently working to determine potential locations for the Young Futures Hubs. Over the next few months our officers will be developing an implementation plan for the hubs, which will be submitted to government in February 2027. So watch this space!
Next week there will be an Extraordinary Full Council meeting to discuss an important document for our city's future – the Local Plan.
It is absolutely vital that we consult on this draft plan so that we can submit Peterborough’s Proposed Submission Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government by 31 December 2026.
Three years of hard work has gone into this plan, and more than £1m in the process, and we cannot now start from scratch.
Cabinet will consider any comments made by Full Council, at its meeting on 1 October. The intention is then for consultation on the draft to begin shortly after.
As the leader of a transparent and inclusive administration, of course I welcome the input from wider members to our Local Plan, however it must remain our absolute goal to see our plan submitted to Government by the deadline. Councillors had 3 years of engagement and workshops to attend. On record, not a single leader of the opposition parties contacted me in person about concerns for the plan which makes me question their intentions.
And lastly, it was wonderful to have attended visit my mosque day hosted by the Joint Mosque’s Council. Mr Abdul Muqqadas gave councillors and the chief constable a very warm welcome. The work the JMC is doing on community cohesion is praiseworthy.