Durham Council launches strategy to help thousands in poverty

Durham County Council cabinet members will next week discuss the latest work being done by the local authority to support people affected by poverty across the region. 

More than 112,000 County Durham residents currently live in absolute poverty after housing costs, around one in five people. Fuel poverty remains a persistent issue, affecting an estimated 26,600 households, with many struggling to afford adequate heating and energy. 

The refreshed strategy is set to be structured around five strategic pillars: Prevention, Protection, Pathways, Participation, and Partnerships.

Consideration will also be given to the potential renaming of the strategy, recognising that the term “poverty” can carry stigma for individuals and communities, the council added. 

A council report states: “The refreshed strategic approach focuses on creating clear pathways out of poverty by supporting residents back into the workforce and building the skills needed for long-term financial resilience.

“It recognises the ongoing need for short-term crisis support to help residents manage immediate financial pressures with a long-term view to reducing this demand.”

Durham County Council has administered more than £30.5 million through the Household Support Fund since 2022, aimed at reducing poverty and supporting vulnerable households. Food and energy vouchers, free school meals and council tax reductions are among a raft of measures in place to help those struggling the most. 

The council has also prioritised housing stability, investing in emergency crisis payments to prevent evictions and support residents at risk of homelessness.

County Durham is currently ranked as the 40th most deprived upper-tier local authority in England out of 153. The number of in-work Universal Credit claimants has more than doubled, rising from 9,500 in March 2020 to 19,900 by September 2023. 

Councillor Nicola Lyons, cabinet member for communities and civic resilience, said: “Community wellbeing and resilience are key priorities for this council, and we want to do everything in our power to support residents and tackle the complex issues that arise from poverty.”

Councillors are set to agree on holding a new public consultation as part of the next stage of development of a refreshed County Durham Poverty Strategy, which outlines a comprehensive response to the wide-ranging poverty issues within the county. 

The report adds: “Financial insecurity remains a pressing and complex challenge, shaped by a range of interrelated factors that have intensified in recent years.  

“The ongoing legacy of the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect household resilience and access to support and sustained inflationary pressures, particularly in relation to food, energy, housing, and utilities, have significantly eroded disposable incomes, disproportionately affecting low-income and vulnerable households.”

Domestic policy changes, including the reduction of universal support schemes and rising housing costs, have further exacerbated financial instability.”

Following the public consultation and further review activity, a new strategy and action plan will be developed and presented to full council in 2026.

Cabinet members will discuss the council’s proposal on Wednesday, December 17.