Latest news with #Darwen
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now
HARD-UP families can get free washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 towards the cost of energy this summer. The help comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) - a giant £742million fund available to councils in England. 1 Councils have until March 31, 2026, to allocate their share of this fund to residents in need. Support is usually offered to those on a low income, benefits or classed as vulnerable. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is offering thousands of hard-up households a range of help based on their needs. Some can get £200 towards the cost of gas and electricity while others can get help paying for food. Meanwhile, some can get help covering the cost of white goods such as washing machines and fridges, and single beds for children. Blackburn with Darwen Council wouldn't say how much the average price of a white good someone will receive might be. However, Which? says the average price of a fridge freezer is £800, so you could save yourself a fair amount by applying. Households requesting help with white goods must be referred to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council by a professional. The council said this referrer might be someone from adult services, charity Age UK or children's services. You'll need to be of a limited income to apply for help through the fund. The criteria you must meet is: How to cut energy costs and get help with FOUR key household bills Single Adult in Work: Your household income must be below £26,057 (before tax and National Insurance) Two or More Adults in Work: Your household income must be below £38,870 (before tax and National Insurance) Your household savings must be under £2,000 If you're a pensioner, you can have savings up to £16,000 It's worth noting, if you've received a white goods item in the last 12 months from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, you cannot apply for help with white goods this round. More details about the HSF scheme and how to apply are on Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's website - Councillor Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The Household Support Fund is there to support those people who are really struggling with the cost of living. "In addition to funding for a variety of things, residents can also access financial advice to help them with reducing their household outgoings and improving their income. "Anyone living in Blackburn with Darwen can apply and although there is some eligibility criteria to meet, we're keen to remind people that the Household Support Fund is open to applications from people who are in work, as well as those who are not." Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. The last round ran until the end of March 2025, but was extended. The most current round is running between April 2025 and March 2026. If you live outside the Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council area, it's worth checking if you qualify for help via the HSF where you live. You might be able to get free grants to cover energy bills or supermarket vouchers to spend on food. Find out what council area you fall under by visiting How else to get free white goods It's not just through the Household Support Fund you can get help with the costs of white goods. Here are some other avenues to get help. Council schemes Some councils run schemes to cover the cost of white goods. For example, Norfolk County Council has a Client Hardship Service (CHS) offering second-hand and new appliances to hard-up households. To get help you'll need to be aged 16 or older, live in Norfolk and be claiming a means-tested benefit like Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Meanwhile, Manchester City Council provides those who are resettling or moving out of temporary accommodation with basic furniture and white goods. Use the government's council locator tool, which we've shown above, to find out if your local authority offers any white good-based support and eligibility criteria. Many local councils have local assistance funds providing essential furniture and white goods too. For example, Waltham Forest Council, in London, offers struggling households vouchers to pay for essentials like bedding, household goods and furniture. You'll need to prove you don't have savings which could be used to cover the cost of these goods and must be aged 16 or over. North Yorkshire Council also offers households facing financial hardship help. Under the scheme, households can replace broken appliances free of charge, as well as access help buying food, clothing, beds and bedding. You'll need to provide proof of why you need extra support. Grants for those in specific jobs You might be able to get help covering the cost of white goods if you've worked for a specific company. One of the biggest schemes out there is the BT Benevolent Fund, which is for anyone who works at BT or has worked there before, including pensioners and dependants. You can apply for the BT Benevolent Fund on the scheme's website. Another is the Insurance Charities, which can be accessed by anyone who has worked in the insurance sector for at least five years. If a parent or primary carer has worked within the fashion and textile industry for at least one year within the past nine years, they can apply for grants to buy white goods through the Fashion and Textile Children's Trust. This includes working in a supermarket or shop with a clothes range such as Mothercare. The average amount paid is £515. Lastly, the Veteran's Charity supports those who have worked in the armed forces facing hardship. The charity can provide small and large white goods to help those battling hardship and distress. Charity grants Buttle UK is a charity for children, young people, their families, and carers offering grants worth up to £2,000. Support packages include money for essential items, including beds and cookers, and help for children's emotional, social, and educational needs. Meanwhile, Family Fund supports families raising disabled or seriously ill children. They provide grants for several things, including washing machines, bedding, and furniture. The grants are paid through specific suppliers and can be used for the total cost of new items or a discount on the cost. The exact amount given varies in each individual case. For those in England and Scotland, kitchen goods are supplied by the website AO. For those in Wales, grants are supplied by Argos, and for those in Northern Ireland, the supplier is Vision Sales. Charity Glasspool also provides grants to help people buy white goods, bedding, and items for children and babies. There are no specific eligibility requests for this charity, but it says it expects anyone applying to have already made an application for local welfare schemes.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Contestants sought for new ITV quiz show with £1million jackpot
A nationwide search is under way for contestants to join a new Saturday night quiz show. The ITV1 and ITVX series, Win Win with People's Postcode Lottery, will be hosted by comedy duo Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins. Producers are looking for "fun, enthusiastic" individuals with standout personalities to take part in the six-week series. The show's producers are seeking contestants for the new series (Image: Supplied) The show will be filmed in studio and will involve survey-based questions. A total of 40 contestants will take part in each episode. Mel Giedroyc said: "This quiz is so extra. "Imagine winning something like a car just by playing along with a gameshow you're watching on a Saturday night in your pyjamas? "I can't wait." Sue Perkins said: "If I wasn't hosting this, I'd be playing it at home; sat in my leopard print onesie, cuddling the dog whilst trying to figure out the nation's favourite chocolate bar. "Bring it on." Viewers at home will have the chance to win the same prizes as those in the studio. One contestant will also walk away with a guaranteed £1 million jackpot. Other prizes on offer include holidays, luxury cars, and tickets to major sporting and entertainment events. The ITV series is produced by Hello Dolly, and is described as the broadcaster's biggest-ever ad-funded series. It has been co-funded by People's Postcode Lottery and will air on Saturday nights. Katie Rawcliffe, director of entertainment and daytime at ITV, said: "We are delighted to have the brilliant Mel and Sue bringing this new format to life. "Forget shouting at the telly or rowing with your family about the answers – you can actually join in and be in with a chance of winning the same prize you're seeing on screen." Bhavit Chandrani, director of BE Studio from ITV, said: "This is our biggest ad-funded show yet and we're thrilled that by working with People's Postcode Lottery and Hello Dolly we're able to deliver such an interactive programme for viewers, who have real chances of bagging the same huge prizes they're seeing contestants win, from the comfort of their sofas." Imme Rog, executive board member of the Postcode Lottery Group, said: "We have 35 years of experience in creating and promoting successful TV formats in our other countries, and we are delighted to be partnering with Hello Dolly and ITV in bringing Win Win with People's Postcode Lottery to the British prime-time audience." READ MORE: Get to know Sophie from Darwen ahead of her Love Island appearance EastEnders star leaving with 'head held high' after shock soap exit news The Voice UK announces new coach with 'fantastic' track record for next series Victoria Ashbourne, CEO of Hello Dolly and executive producer, said: "We are thrilled to be working with People's Postcode Lottery and ITV to bring this innovative and exciting new format to life. "For the first time ever, viewers at home get the same winning experience as the contestants in studio – as a programme creator and producer that is super exciting." Casting is open now for applicants who are available to take part in the studio each week during the six-week series. The show promises a mix of humour, drama, and life-changing decisions.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Man who slashed stranger's face outside sports bar jailed
A man who slashed a stranger's face in a drug-fuelled attack after his victim refused to buy him a drink in a bar has been O'Brien attacked the man outside the Spitfire Fun Vault on Borough Road, Darwen, in the early hours of 20 October, Lancashire Police victim was taken to hospital where he had to have plastic surgery for a life-changing facial injury.O'Brien, 25, who pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court to five years and eight months in prison. He was also given an extended licence period of three years. Police said O'Brien's attack outside the sports bar could have "so easily proved fatal". Deep cut O'Brien, of Industry Street, Darwen, was arrested a few hours after the attack after officers searched through court heard he had asked the man, who he had never previously met, to buy him a drink on several times in the bar. When the they refused, O'Brien asked him outside for what the victim thought would be a chat. Without warning O'Brien raised his hand and struck the victim to the face, in what he initially believed was a slap, a police spokesman said. But the 25-year-old had slashed him with a blade, causing a deep cut to the left side of the victim's face from his chin to the top of his ear.O'Brien pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court at an earlier hearing to wounding with intent and possessing a bladed article in a public place. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lancs pub closes for major refurbishment - everything you need to know
A Lancashire pub is set for a major refurbishment. The Poachers, a family-friendly pub in Bamber Bridge, closed for renovations on May 19, with plans to reopen in June. The Lostock Lane pub will receive a comprehensive makeover to its bar and function room. Additional entertainment features will include new dart boards and extra TV screens. READ MORE: What's the name of Peppa Pig's new baby sister? Mummy Pig gives birth Holidays fun returns in Blackburn with Darwen thanks to culture club All invited to Lancashire Women 'Volunteer Open Day' The Poachers is also upgrading its toilets for a more modern feel. Outside, the beer garden will be revamped with new fencing, furniture, and an outdoor TV screen for live sports, offering a summer haven for sports fans. The investment is set to breathe new life into the popular Hungry Horse pub, ensuring it continues to be a staple of the local community.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- BBC News
Darwen woman left dog to die in empty house after fire
A woman who left her dog to die in her house after she moved out has been banned from keeping animals. Rachel Maxwell was put in a hotel after a fire and flood at her home in Darwen, Lancashire, but did not tell anyone she had Shih Tzu Jasper. When the RSPCA went to 49-year-old Maxwell's home, the dead pet was "barely recognisable as a dog". She pleaded guilty at Blackburn Magistrate's Court to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and was banned from having animals for 10 years. Warning: This report contains distressing images. The RSPCA became involved after a housing officer found Jasper's body in the house in Ellenshaw Close in April dog was severely underweight and its fur completely matted. "It was impossible to tell which part was its head, limbs or tail," RSPCA animal rescue officer Zoe Fursman said. Maxwell was not there when the RSPCA went to the house, but "did not seem at all shocked or saddened" when told of the dog's death.A post mortem examination concluded the dog, which weighed only 3.4kg (7lbs), had probably died from extreme weight loss. But the RSPCA told the court the cause of the weight loss might have been an illness preventing absorption of nutrients, rather than a lack of court heard a vet had said the dog had probably suffered for at least a month before its death. 'Truly heart-breaking' Maxwell had not told housing officers about the dog and so was not put in a dog-friendly hotel. Later, when she revealed she had a pet, she claimed it was being looked after by her daughter. The court heard Maxwell was "well-intentioned but incompetent" when it came to caring for Jasper, and was also dealing with mental health claimed that she had returned to the property to feed Jasper after he returned from her daughter's house, the RSPCA inspector Will Lamping said: "Jasper had clearly been suffering for a long time. "It's unknown how long he went without appropriate food, or how long he was left alone in the house. "But what is clear is that he would have been scared, confused and in a lot of pain. "There were missed opportunities to take him to a vet before he got into such a horrific state, and the fact his death was so needless is truly heart-breaking."Maxwell was also given a 12-month community order and 20 rehabilitation activity days. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
