Latest news with #BrentCouncil
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
20 Universal Credit freebies and discounts you can claim in August worth more than £17,000
Plus, we reveal one scheme which could see support worth £500 land in your bank account BENEFIT BOOST 20 Universal Credit freebies and discounts you can claim in August worth more than £17,000 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of households on Universal Credit are missing out on thousands of pounds' worth of extra support – from free food to savings bonuses and council tax discounts. With food inflation still stubbornly high, energy prices creeping up again, and back-to-school costs around the corner, August is a crucial month to check what help is available. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 We share all the freebies and discounts for those on Universal Credit Credit: Alamy If you're on Universal Credit or a similarly low income, you could be missing out on vital financial support, and many of these schemes don't need to be paid back. Here's a detailed breakdown of the help on offer this August, who's eligible, how much you might get, and how to claim. If you're eligible for all 20, you may be able to save more than £17,000 over 12 months. 1. Household Support Fund – Savings: up to £500 The Household Support Fund runs until March 2026 and gives emergency cash or voucher support to households struggling with essentials like food, energy, and white goods. Payouts and eligibility vary by local authority. For example: Brent Council offers up to £500 for struggling families. Apply at Doncaster pays between £100 and £300 to families on UC. See Ribble Valley gives food vouchers worth £200–£500 to households earning under £35,000. Visit How to apply: Go to your council's website and search for 'Household Support Fund' – the easiest way is to Google your council name plus the phrase. 2. Free holiday food and activities – worth hundreds If your child gets free school meals, you can usually access the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, run in partnership with councils and funded by the government. Activities include football camps, arts, drama and free meals. In many areas, bookings are open now for August sessions: Leeds offers HAF places including hot meals and sports activities: Hampshire includes cookery clubs, forest schools and free meals: In Scotland, parents receive direct holiday payments instead of food provision. For example: Glasgow pays £135 for summer holidays per eligible child: Wales and Northern Ireland also run holiday support schemes via schools and councils – check with your local authority. Five key changes to PIP & Universal Credit as Labour's benefits crackdown unveiled 3. Warm Home Discount – Savings: £150 credit Eligible low-income households can get £150 off electricity bills automatically between October and March. You usually don't need to apply – energy suppliers apply the discount directly if you qualify. If you're on UC and meet your supplier's rules (especially if your home is classed as "energy inefficient"), the discount will appear as a credit on your bill. Check eligibility at 4. Discounted broadband and mobile – Savings: save up to £196.68 Social tariffs offer cheap broadband to people on benefits. Some of the cheapest include: Virgin Media Essentials: £12.50/month – save £137.88/year vs regular Virgin package. BT Home Essentials: £15/month for fibre + calls. Voxi for Now: £10/month for unlimited mobile data for six months – saving £150 vs regular deal. According to Uswitch, the average broadband bill in the UK is £26.39/month – switching to the cheapest social tariff could save you £196.68 per year. Compare all social tariffs at 5. Free school meals – Savings: save up to £503.50 per child per year If your child is at school and you claim Universal Credit, they may qualify for free school meals during term time. To be eligible in England, your household income (excluding benefits) must be under £7,400 a year. This limit also applies in Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, all children in primary years 1 to 5 get free school meals regardless of income, and older pupils may also qualify based on UC claims. The Food Foundation says the average cost of a school lunch is £2.65. Over 190 school days, that amounts to a potential saving of around £503.50 per child per year. Check eligibility and apply at 6. Council tax reduction – Savings: save up to £2,280 If you receive Universal Credit, you can apply for a council tax reduction of up to 100%. Every local authority sets its own rules, but many reduce council tax significantly for low-income households. If you live alone, you can also get a single person discount of 25%. For example: In Manchester, households on UC can get up to 100% off their council tax. Apply at Bristol offers up to 90% for most working-age households on benefits. More info at The average Band D council tax in England for 2025-26 is now £2,280, so a full reduction is worth that amount annually. 7. Help with water bills – Savings: save hundreds off your annual bill Water companies offer social tariffs or capped rates for those on UC and similar benefits. These schemes vary by supplier. For example: Affinity Water caps bills at £119.50/year for eligible households. See United Utilities offers up to 50% off for households with high usage or medical needs. More at According to Discover Water, the average water bill in England and Wales has risen to £603 in 2025. Switching to a capped or social tariff could save you hundreds of pounds depending on your supplier and usage. 8. Energy grants – Savings: up to £1,500 Several energy suppliers offer grants to help customers on low incomes clear energy debts or cover bills. For example: British Gas Energy Trust offers grants up to £1,500 even if you're not a British Gas customer. Apply at Next Energy Fund provides help with white goods and bill support. Visit You'll usually need to show proof of income, provide meter readings, and explain your situation. These grants don't need to be repaid. 9. Free prescriptions and dental care – Savings: variable savings Universal Credit claimants may be entitled to free NHS prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and help with health costs. You'll qualify if: You're single and earn under £435/month Or your household earns under £935/month and gets the child element of UC or has limited capability for work These savings can quickly add up: NHS prescriptions in England cost £9.90 each A standard NHS dental check-up is £25.80 10. Help to Save – Earn up to £300 a year This government-backed savings account is designed to encourage low-income households to build a financial cushion. If you're on Universal Credit and meet the eligibility requirements, you can open a Help to Save account and get a 50% bonus on savings. You can save between £1 and £50 each month, and at the end of two years, you'll receive a bonus worth half of the highest balance you've saved. You can continue saving for up to four years, earning a maximum total bonus of £1,200 if you save the full amount every month. Payments can be stopped and restarted without penalty You can withdraw money if needed, but it may reduce your bonus Apply at 11. School uniform grants – Savings: up to £200 Buying new uniforms can be a major back-to-school expense. Fortunately, some local authorities offer school uniform grants to help cover the cost. These grants are often available if your child is eligible for free school meals and you're on Universal Credit. Examples include: City of London: £160 for secondary school pupils. Apply at Sefton Council: £45 for primary and £70 for secondary. See Wales: The Pupil Development Grant offers £200 to eligible families. More info at Grants are often paid as vouchers, bank transfers, or reimbursements. Deadlines and application processes vary, so check with your local authority. 12. Free or discounted travel – Savings: up to 50% off Help with travel costs is available in several forms if you're on Universal Credit and looking for work or studying: Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card: Offers up to 50% off rail fares. Available to jobseekers who have been claiming UC or JSA for at least 13 weeks (or longer depending on age). More info at 16–17 Saver Card: Reduces fares by 50% for young people. Apply at Student Oyster Photocard: Offers 30% off travelcards and bus passes in London. See Note: Eligibility criteria and application processes vary by scheme. Some discounts depend on your age or how long you've been claiming UC. Some councils also offer additional support, for example, Derbyshire County Council provides bus travel support through its Wheels to Work scheme. 13. Flexible Support Fund – Savings: no official cap Administered by your Jobcentre, this discretionary fund can help cover work-related expenses to support you into employment. Unlike Universal Credit, this isn't a fixed payment and is granted based on individual need. You might be able to get: Up to £150 for tools, uniforms, or work clothing Travel costs to interviews or training Short-term childcare support For example, one claimant in Leeds received £120 to cover train tickets for job interviews. To apply, speak directly to your work coach, who can authorise support. 14. Maternity grants – Savings: £500 per child The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off tax-free payment to help with the cost of a new baby. You don't have to repay it, and it won't affect other benefits. You'll get £500 if: It's your first child You're expecting twins or more, and already have children Applications open from 11 weeks before the due date until 6 months after birth. You must be on Universal Credit and not already receiving other maternity payments. Download the SF100 form at and send it by post. 15. Healthy Start vouchers – Savings: up to £442/year Eligible parents can receive prepaid cards that are topped up every four weeks, helping you buy healthy foods and milk. It's designed for pregnant women and parents of children under four. £4.25/week if pregnant (from week 10) £8.50/week for children under 1 £4.25/week for kids aged 1–4 In a child's first year, this adds up to £442, and about £221 per year after that. You're eligible if you're on Universal Credit with earnings below £408/month. Apply online at 16. Funeral expenses payment – Savings: up to £1,000 If you're arranging a funeral and receive UC, you might qualify for this payment to cover necessary costs. This payment is usually made to the funeral director. You can get up to £1,000 for: Flowers Funeral director's fees Travel costs Burial or cremation fees may also be covered separately. Payments depend on your relationship with the deceased and other contributions (e.g. from insurance). Find out more at 17. Legal aid – Savings: varies by case Legal aid can cover the cost of advice or representation for those facing serious legal issues. If you're on Universal Credit, you may qualify if your case meets the criteria. Support is available for: Domestic violence and child protection Housing or eviction cases Discrimination Immigration or asylum matters You may have to contribute towards costs depending on your income or assets. Check eligibility at 18. Childcare support – Savings: up to £1,769/month If you're working at least 16 hours/week and on UC, you can claim back 85% of childcare costs: £1,031.88 for one child £1,768.94 for two or more children The money is paid after you've submitted evidence of payment each month. There are often delays, so it's important to budget carefully or ask providers if they'll accept delayed payment. Apply through your UC account at 19. Free childcare hours (England only) – Savings: up to £7,500 From September 2024, parents of 2-year-olds in working families can access 15 free hours of childcare per week. From September 2025, this extends to 30 hours for children from nine months old. To be eligible: Both parents must be working (or one, in single-parent households) You must earn at least £183/week and under £100,000/year The Government says this will save families an average of £7,500 a year. More details at 20. Discounted glasses and eye tests – Savings: up to £233.56 NHS optical support includes: Free eye tests every two years Vouchers for glasses or lenses worth between £42.40 and £233.56 depending on your prescription Some opticians apply the discount automatically if you show your UC award letter. Check the NHS guide at
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Tourist tax a 'step closer' in Southwark
Plans to introduce a tourist tax in Southwark, which could raise millions for the area, have moved a step closer after the local council agreed to go is home to some of London's most visited attractions and areas including London Bridge, the Shard, the Globe theatre and the Tate Modern art are 6,000 hotel and hostel bedrooms in the borough, and at average occupancy rates a levy could raise over £2 million. The revenue could be put towards community safety measures and general upkeep and maintenance of the area. The impact of visitors to areas such as the Bermondsey Beer Mile could be eased by a tourist tax contribution towards cleaning up so costs are not entirely shouldered by council tax Liberal Democrats on the council had originally proposed a voluntary, £2-a-night fee, which is already used in Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh, the Local Democracy Reporting Service was amended to the motion both the Lib Dem and Labour groups on the council agreed. The move comes after Brent Council passed a similar motion in July which could see a mandatory visitor levy on hotel and short-stay 3 million UK and international visitors attended events at Wembley Stadium. Brent Council said the number of visitors brings "very real challenges" and it wanted to make sure visitors "contribute fairly" to the area's upkeep.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Fly-tipping clampdown sees fines double in Brent
Fly-tipping fines have more than doubled in the north-west London borough of Brent, its council has than 5,700 enforcement actions have been taken over the past 12 months, up from around 2,700 the year a result, fines also increased by over £100,000 over the same period as part of its clampdown on illegal waste dumping, the local authority fly-tipping on public land rose by 6% last year, with over one million incidents reported in England alone. As part of its crackdown, Brent council has been holding what it calls Community Skip aim to remove barriers by offering "community skips" that visit every ward three times a year."We're on par with a neighbouring areas with the cost of a service," said Krupa Sheth, cabinet member for environment and enforcement. "But the reason why we've got something like our community skip that goes around all across the borough three times here to every single one of our wards is so that our residents can dispose of rubbish for free." On Saturday, along with the skip placed in Tokyngton ward, Wembley, council enforcement officers also paced the streets looking for evidence of who had dumped piles of waste was bagged in red sacks and left for 24 hours - meant as a clear signal that the team had been on the scene."I just hate it," said resident, and volunteer rubbish picker, Ferenc Furger. "Because this is where we live, this is where our children [are] growing up and I don't want that. It's just messy." Brent, like many boroughs, charges residents to dispose of bulky goods - currently priced at £55 for a collection of up to five Hamlets Council offers two free collections of up to five bulky items per year while in Richmond it is £81 per collection of up to five items. Brent has also partnered with Peddle Me Wheels, a scheme that repairs bicycles found dumped or abandoned. Some have been handed over to members of Willesden Raja Amjid Riaz, chairman of the Central Mosque of Brent said they planned to get a system in place where people could "take their bikes for free, enjoy them and bring them back for somebody else to share". In April, Brent council along with other London boroughs, also increased its fines to the maximum £1, fine, known as a fixed penalty notice (FPN), used to be £400. As a result of all these different measures, Brent council has said fly-tipping is down its progress, its enforcement teams say there is still plenty of work to do.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wembley could be latest hotspot to introduce tourist tax after visitor levy proposed
Visitors staying in a hotel near Wembley Stadium following a gig or a match could find themselves paying a tourist tax, after the local council said it is exploring ways it could introduce a levy. A motion was proposed at a Brent Council meeting on Monday to seek ways to introduce a visitor levy on hotels and short-stay accommodation. Brent is home to Wembley Stadium, the largest stadium in the UK and the second largest in Europe, which attracts tens of thousands of fans to music concerts and various sports events throughout the year. As the national stadium of England and home to English football, it can fill 90,000 seats, selling out matches as well as hosting the likes of Oasis and Coldplay in upcoming gigs. The stadium brings economic benefits for Brent when fans flock to the venue, boosting the local economy by roughly £4.35m every time a non-sporting event is held. However, the large crowds also usher in increased noise, pollution, congestion and pressure on council services. To combat this, Brent Council is exploring ways of ensuring "the benefit of our world-class events are felt by all residents", according to the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). After Monday's discussion, the council ultimately passed the motion and is starting the next step of getting permission from the central government to impose a levy. Councillor Mary Mitchell added that London boroughs should take inspiration from other cities across the UK and Europe that impose visitor levies on tourists, to then reinvest in local infrastructure. She said that the money raised from such a levy could fund waste enforcement and improvements to parks and green spaces. However, the UK government at present has no law giving English local authorities the power to impose visitor levies. The LDRS said the council will write to the relevant Secretary of State requesting such powers to be bestowed. The council will also seek support from the mayor of London over a voluntary levy on stadium and arena tickets to fund cultural grassroots opportunities. While there is no official law in place in England, using legal workarounds has meant Liverpool and Manchester have introduced a form of tourism levy through initiatives run by hotels. Both Wales and Scotland's governments have passed laws allowing local authorities to introduce visitor levies, with Wales giving the go-ahead on 8 July for councils to start discussions to introduce these taxes by 2027. The Welsh levy will be set at £1.30 per person per night for visitors staying in various types of accommodation, including hotels and bed and breakfasts. If visitors are camping or staying in a hostel in Wales, councils will only be able to charge 75p per person per night. The charge will also only be applicable is the visitor is over 18 years old. Edinburgh became the first city to vote in January to add a five per cent surcharge on visitors' overnight stays by 2026. Glasgow then followed, giving the green light to introduce a tourist tax on accommodation in its city by 2027. The Independent has contacted Brent Council for further comment.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Wembley could be latest hotspot to introduce tourist tax after visitor levy proposed
Visitors staying in a hotel near Wembley Stadium following a gig or a match could find themselves paying a tourist tax, after the local council said it is exploring ways it could introduce a levy. A motion was proposed at a Brent Council meeting on Monday to seek ways to introduce a visitor levy on hotels and short-stay accommodation. Brent is home to Wembley Stadium, the largest stadium in the UK and the second largest in Europe, which attracts tens of thousands of fans to music concerts and various sports events throughout the year. As the national stadium of England and home to English football, it can fill 90,000 seats, selling out matches as well as hosting the likes of Oasis and Coldplay in upcoming gigs. The stadium brings economic benefits for Brent when fans flock to the venue, boosting the local economy by roughly £4.35m every time a non-sporting event is held. However, the large crowds also usher in increased noise, pollution, congestion and pressure on council services. To combat this, Brent Council is exploring ways of ensuring "the benefit of our world-class events are felt by all residents", according to the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). After Monday's discussion, the council ultimately passed the motion and is starting the next step of getting permission from the central government to impose a levy. Councillor Mary Mitchell added that London boroughs should take inspiration from other cities across the UK and Europe that impose visitor levies on tourists, to then reinvest in local infrastructure. She said that the money raised from such a levy could fund waste enforcement and improvements to parks and green spaces. However, the UK government at present has no law giving English local authorities the power to impose visitor levies. The LDRS said the council will write to the relevant Secretary of State requesting such powers to be bestowed. The council will also seek support from the mayor of London over a voluntary levy on stadium and arena tickets to fund cultural grassroots opportunities. While there is no official law in place in England, using legal workarounds has meant Liverpool and Manchester have introduced a form of tourism levy through initiatives run by hotels. Both Wales and Scotland's governments have passed laws allowing local authorities to introduce visitor levies, with Wales giving the go-ahead on 8 July for councils to start discussions to introduce these taxes by 2027. The Welsh levy will be set at £1.30 per person per night for visitors staying in various types of accommodation, including hotels and bed and breakfasts. If visitors are camping or staying in a hostel in Wales, councils will only be able to charge 75p per person per night. The charge will also only be applicable is the visitor is over 18 years old. Edinburgh became the first city to vote in January to add a five per cent surcharge on visitors' overnight stays by 2026. Glasgow then followed, giving the green light to introduce a tourist tax on accommodation in its city by 2027.
