BARNSLEY Council has a ‘unique opportunity’ to make a lasting impact on poverty reduction thanks to new funding after it was revealed that the town is classed as one of the most deprived areas in the country.

The new Crisis and Resilience Fund will for the first time give councils much-needed certainty to protect households from falling into crisis and to provide vital support to those who need it most.

Local authorities will be empowered to best target support in their areas - including allocating funding to ensure children receive meals outside of term time.

Other examples could include bringing together existing services to deliver joined-up support such as on debt advice, income maximisation, budgeting and welfare support.

At a meeting in the town hall yesterday, councillors heard how the new plans would be able to support local people.

But the council has been working on a number of projects already.

A report said: “Barnsley Council received £150,000 from SYMCA to improve food access in the borough, this has been topped up via Household Support Fund to create a ‘food innovation fund’ which has been used to develop sustainable services to improve access to good food.

“Two key initiatives have been the Good Food Pantry and Community Shop on the Go.

“Both initiatives embrace the principles of proportionate universalism, with no financial eligibility criteria to reduce stigma, while targeting those in need by operating in areas of greatest food insecurity.

“Both services promote the consumption of affordable, high quality fresh produce in these areas, to contribute to an improved diet and a reduction of diet-based health inequalities.”

It comes after the latest figures revealed that Barnsley was the 38th most-deprived area in the country.

Health inequalities and food insecurity were cited as two of the main concerns for Barnsley.

The report added: “Food insecurity in Barnsley is driven both by economic deprivation and geographic availability of affordable food, with many local communities experiencing a combination of both factors simultaneously.

“This is further exacerbated for those with mobility issues; where public transport is limited, or for those unable to shop online.

“These residents are often forced into the ‘poverty premium’ of purchasing food only from high-cost local shops or takeaway outlets.

“Prior to the pandemic, food in the UK was generally affordable, but in the period following the pandemic, households already struggling with the increasing cost of borrowing, energy and fuel were faced with food prices rising at a level significantly higher than the rate of inflation, reaching 19 per cent in March 2023.

“While prices have reduced since, inflation on food remains higher than for other goods, with the cost of basic food items further impacted by external factors including Brexit and the Ukraine war and have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.”