Residents are urged to take part in a survey so the Council, and partners can tailor their cost of living support to help as many people as possible.

Last year Redditch Borough Council joined forces with partners including Citizens Advice Bromsgrove and Redditch, Act on Energy, Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest, local foodbanks and Department for Work and Pensions to signpost all the support available locally as the cost of living crisis hit.

During that time three leaflets have been issued to include top money saving tips, details of support available and most recently where free summer events can be accessed, all alongside social media campaigns to help raise awareness of help locally.

A survey was also carried out earlier this year to ensure that the support being offered was useful to residents.

Now, a year on a second survey is being launched on September 11 in preparation for the Autumn and Winter periods which could see heating needs and bills increasing along with anticipated rent and mortgage rises.

Redditch Borough Council Leader Matt Dormer whose portfolio covers Partnerships, said: “Unfortunately, with anticipated mortgage and rent increases on the cards for a lot of people, along with higher energy bills as we hit the Winter months, it is vital we provide the advice which people most need and that this support is accessible to everyone.

“We don’t want to be complacent in how we offer help to our residents so the feedback from this survey will be used to tailor what we and our partners provide and how it can be accessed.

“We are in this together so please take a few minutes to help us to continue to help you.”

The survey runs from September 11 until midnight on October 8 and can be found here https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RBCCostofLivingSept2023/

Paper copies of this survey are also available from the Town Hall.