A £30 million support package has been announced to help Manchester residents with the cost of living this winter.
Manchester City Council is set to spend the money on helping those facing hardship and poverty as the weather turns colder, and this includes £6.5 million awarded through the Government’s Household Support Fund to target support for those most in-need of help to pay for energy, water, food, and other essentials up to April 2025.
According to the Council, this will supplement the already-ongoing wider work to support residents at risk from the cost of living throughout the year.
Enhanced support for pensioners has also been announced this week.
Under the new scheme, pensioners who are not in receipt of pension credits – and therefore will not receive the winter fuel payment – but still need support over the winter, will now be eligible for payments of £150, or £200 if they are aged 80 or over.
Struggling to afford essentials, or know someone who is? Get in touch with our team.
The cost of living is continuing to hit Mancunians. That's why we're announcing a wide range of support for those who need it.
All low income Manchester households in receipt of Council Tax Support, where at least one person gets disability benefits, will get an automatic payment of £100 from the Council, it has been confirmed – with an estimated 21,437 households across the city are expected to benefit from this.
£10 per week is also to be paid to around 350 care leavers, who are living in their own tenancies across the city.
Families with children who are eligible for free school meals during term time will receive payments for each eligible child of £15 for the autumn half term, £30 for the Christmas holiday, and £15 for the spring 2025 half term to prevent holiday hunger – with payments distributed via Manchester schools.
A further £190,000 will also be allocated to the Council’s Holiday Activity Fund (HAF) to provide free activities for children during half terms.
A £30m winter support package has been announced to help Manchester residents with the cost of living / Credit: RawPixel
To round things off, £200,000 will be allocated to voluntary and community sector organisations working in the city to help make sure those who are harder-to-reach are still supported, and £20,000 will be added to funding for the Council’s existing welfare support scheme to provide grants for those facing hardship.
Councillor Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, says these targeted payments will “make a real difference” to tens of thousands of Manchester people who are struggling with cost of living pressures.
“The message is clear, if you are struggling this winter, please contact us and we will support you,” she concluded.
Residents struggling with costs and wanting to find out more about the range of support available are encouraged to contact the Cost of Living Advice Line on freephone 0800 0232692 between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Payments will be made from November onwards.
Featured Image – EthelRedThePetrolHead (via Flickr)
News
Major Co-op Live concert cancelled with fans already inside venue
Daisy Jackson
Major Co-op Live gig Jeff Lynne’s ELO has been cancelled this evening – after fans had already entered the venue.
Jeff Lynne’s ELO were set to perform the second of two nights at the huge Manchester venue tonight, as part of their final UK tour.
The Over and Out Tour should have been taking place on both the 9 and 10 July before heading to London’s BST Hyde Park Festival on Sunday.
But the show has been cancelled minutes before the legendary band were due to take to the stage.
Fans had already taken their seats inside the massive Co-op Live Arena when the news broke that the gig would not be able to take place ‘due to illness’.
77-year-old Jeff Lynne himself, who recently broke his hand in an accident, is said to be ‘devastated’ that he is unable to perform.
Jeff Lynne’s ELO has been cancelled at Co-op Live
A statement from the band said: “Unfortunately due to illness tonight’s (Thursday 10th July 2025) scheduled performance of Jeff Lynne’s ELO at the Co-Op Live will not be going ahead.
“Jeff is devastated he cannot perform this evening.
“More information will become available as soon as possible. For refunds please go to your point of purchase.”
According to fans, audiences inside Co-op Live were told the show was cancelled with just 45 minutes to go.
One person wrote: “The concert that never was. Cancelled with 45mins to go. Get well soon Jeff Lynne.”
Literally mins after this picture was taken Jeff Lynn cancelled 😞 @JeffLynnesELO Broke his hand a few days ago and has played the best he can and well done to you ! But then decides to cancel 2nd night n Manchester very last minute ! But it’s ok just ask for a refund !!! 😡 pic.twitter.com/wv1JfWPwk5
Andy Burnham reveals plans to build underground tram and train line in Manchester by 2050
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has announced some ambitious long-term plans to build an underground tram and train line in Manchester.
As Greater Manchester sets its sights on a new era of economic growth, on the way to becoming a ‘second city’ to rival any other on the planet by 2050, Mayor Andy Burnham shared the city region’s blueprint for a ‘greener, fairer future’ this week – with underground transport plans being right the heart of it.
Mr Burnham says his vision for the next decade is to create a ‘thriving’ city region where everyone can ‘live a good life’.
Andy Burnham reveals plans to build an underground tram and train line in Manchester / Credit: TfGM
But it’s public transport where it seems some of the most significant changes are set to be made before 2050 arrives.
The Mayor revealed plans for new bus routes, tramlines, and train stations to connect ‘thriving communities’ across the city region with an integrated lower-cost transport system that’ll help more people get out and access new opportunities.
Construction of a tram stop to service new homes at Victoria North will also start by 2028, it has been confirmed, while work to bring Metrolink to Stockport – which has already been announced to huge support – will begin by 2030.
Two commuter rail lines will join the Bee Network next December as well, with another six joining by 2028.
GM is growing fast.
We will expand @BeeNetwork over the next decade to meet the needs of our bigger economy.
BUT
There’s a limit to what we can do on a congested surface.
It’s why I am asking TfGM to start planning for an underground for GM around a remodelled Piccadilly. pic.twitter.com/k2ozNWw6Wj
The headline-grabbing announcement, though, has to be that Mr Burnham has also announced plans to unlock ‘transformative’ investment in transport infrastructure, so that by 2050, Manchester Piccadilly has an underground tram and train station with a high-speed rail link to Liverpool.
He’s also looking to boost regeneration of the surrounding area, effectively making it ‘the Kings Cross of the North’.
“We’re the UK’s fastest growing economy and stand on the cusp of what I believe could be our best decade since the Victorian era,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham, “and our task for the next decade is to build a platform for success for all our residents.
“Our vision is ambitious, but in my eight years as Mayor, I’ve learned that, when we pull together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.
“There’s a long and proud tradition of collaboration in Greater Manchester. Devolution has turbocharged that and now we’re ready to deliver a new model of growth where no one is left behind.”
Emily Sergeant -
15th October 2024 
