THOUSANDS of Brits are eligible for up to £75 in free supermarket vouchers, which will give them a boost as the cost of living increases.

From 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025 the Government is providing support to a number of homes through the Household Support Fund which is worth £421million.

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Each council across England has been allocated a share of the pot and decides who to distribute the support to.

The funding will go to low-income households and will go towards food, energy bills, and other key bills, as well as other areas.

Part of the Household Support Fund is the issuing of vouchers for supermarkets to go towards essential food and household products.

“Funding is aimed at anyone who’s vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials,” the UK Government has said.

“You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.”

Applicants who prove that they are facing hardship will be awarded vouchers based on the size of their household.

Here are the varying amounts:

• Households with one or more adults will get £50 in supermarket vouchers.
• Households with one child will also get £50 worth of vouchers.
• Households with two or more children will get £75 of support.

Applications can be made through local councils and Citizens Advice.

People included in the target group for the funding include families with children, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers, disabled people, larger families and single-person households.

However, there are other households that could also be eligible for the support as each council has its own criteria.

All applications will be processed on a case-by-case basis.

The documents included in the applications should include proof of ID, a recent pill or proof of address that you live in the council the funding comes from, evidence of benefits, and evidence of hardship.

Any voucher issued can only be used for essential items and food and cannot be sold for money.

Cash payments will not be issued in place of vouchers.

It should be noted that successful applicants will only get a one-off support offering per household.

The majority of vouchers will be e-vouchers sent to recipients via email which could take up to 72 hours.

Applicants who fail to provide an email address will receive their voucher in the post.

MORE SUPPORT

Another form of support is being issued to those who have lost winter fuel payments.

Hundreds of households can apply for a £200 payment to help cover energy bills as part of the Household Support Fund.

It comes after the Government changed the eligibility criteria for the winter fuel payment meaning only those on certain benefits, including pension credit, will receive the up to £300 payment.

The best thing to do for either of these support packages is to contact your local authority to see if any help is on offer.

You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool via Gov.uk.

The Sun recently shared a guide and interactive map to help those unsure figure out what they may be able to claim.

How has the Household Support Fund evolved?

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The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.

Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.

It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.

The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.

Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.

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In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.

Inside Whoopi Goldberg’s Powerful Legacy: Meet Her Trailblazing Granddaughters, Amara and Jerzey Dean.

Meet Whoopi Goldberg’s Granddaughters: All About Amara and Jerzey Dean

Whoopi Goldberg, renowned for her roles in The Color Purple, Sister Act, and Ghost, is celebrated not only as an actor but also as one of only 18 individuals to achieve EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. But beyond her groundbreaking career, Goldberg plays a special role as a grandmother to her two granddaughters, Amara and Jerzey Dean.

Goldberg’s journey into motherhood began early; she welcomed her daughter, Alexandra “Alex” Martin Dean, at age 18 after marrying her first husband, Alvin Martin. Alex, in turn, has three children — Amara, Jerzey, and their younger brother Mason — making Goldberg a proud grandmother.

In May 2024, Goldberg released a heartfelt memoir, Bits & Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me, shedding light on her family and the bonds that keep them close. “This book is dedicated to everyone who is just trying to figure out the small stuff as well as the big stuff where you have to be more than you thought you could be,” Goldberg shared upon its release.

Actress WHOOPI GOLDBERG & daughter & grandchildren

Amara Skye Dean, 36

Born on November 13, 1989, in Berkeley, California, Amara Skye Dean is the eldest of Goldberg’s grandchildren and, interestingly, shares a birthday with her famous grandmother. Amara gave birth to her daughter, Charli Rose Burr-Reynaud, in 2014, making Goldberg a great-grandmother. Amara describes her family as tight-knit, with deep connections across generations. “We’re a young family,” she told Essence in 2023. “There’s only five of us in our family. We’re all we’ve got, so we take each other real close.”

Goldberg has always taken an unconventional approach to grandparenthood. Shortly after Charli’s birth, she joked about the experience on The Tonight Show, saying, “I wasn’t your normal grandmother, and I’m not going to be your normal great-grandmother either. She better call me Whoopi.”

In 2023, Amara appeared on the reality show Claim to Fame, where celebrity relatives compete to keep their identities under wraps. With Goldberg’s blessing and a piece of cheeky advice to “be a strong b—-,” Amara took on the challenge, even revealing a humorous family tidbit: Goldberg’s nickname “Whoopi” originated from her love for whoopee cushions. She shared one of her favorite stories involving Goldberg, Robin Williams, and Billy Crystal in a playful “fart war” in an elevator, a testament to her grandmother’s lighthearted spirit.

Jerzey Kennedy Dean, 28

Born on February 7, 1996, Jerzey is Goldberg’s younger granddaughter, and the two have shared a strong bond from the beginning. Known for her stylish flair, Jerzey often appeared in the front row of high-profile fashion shows alongside Goldberg. Today, she has carved out her own path as a fashion designer, launching her own label, Jerzey Kennedy Designs, an upscale athleisure brand based in Los Angeles and New York.

Jerzey has often spoken about her grandmother’s influence, especially Goldberg’s commitment to instilling a strong work ethic. Goldberg, who rose from humble beginnings to A-list fame, has always wanted her family to be independent. “She wants us to be real people. Stuff is not just handed to us. It could be, but it’s not,” Amara shared in 2023.

Both granddaughters have taken Goldberg’s lessons to heart, working hard to establish themselves outside her shadow. “I just want people to know that I really worked hard for my position and the stuff that I did,” Amara noted. “I did a lot without my grandmother’s help. But the fact that she’s there to give me the help, you know, I don’t want to run it up. I want to do what I can do.”

With Goldberg’s unique blend of love, humor, and guidance, Amara and Jerzey continue to forge their own identities, creating a legacy that intertwines with their grandmother’s but remains distinctly their own.

Openwork Partnership chief executive Richard Houghton has left his role with “immediate effect”.

In an internal memo, Philip Howell confirmed he has resumed his role of CEO on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found.

Meanwhile, Duncan Crocker will take on the role of chair.

The group said it will begin the process of recruiting a new CEO shortly.

Houghton joined Openwork as chief financial officer in July 2020, after a stint as interim CFO.

He began his career in audit, corporate recovery and corporate finance with Deloitte before leaving practice to join the financial services industry.

For nearly a decade, from 1998 to 2007, Houghton worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, serving latterly as chief operating officer for RBS Insurance.

Between 2007 and 2012 he served as group chief finance officer at Aspen Insurance Holdings before joining RSA Insurance Group in 2012 as group chief financial officer.

From 2016 to 2017 he served as interim CFO at Co-operative Insurance and held the same position at Hyperion Insurance Group throughout 2019.

He is also an experienced non-executive director, having served as chair of the audit committee at Standard Life Assurance Ltd between 2017 and 2018, and on the Phoenix Life boards from 2018 to 2019.

The news of his departure follows last month’s announcement by Openwork that it had secured investment from global private investment firm Bain Capital.

In 2023, Openwork announced its intention to seek a minority investor to support its growth plans.

“With Bain Capital as our new partners, we are entering an exciting new era for Openwork,” the memo said.

“We are now commencing detailed planning for our inaugural year together which we look forward to sharing with you at the conference in January and on all colleague briefings.”

A spokesperson for Openwork has confirmed the changes in CEO and chair – and said there will be no further comments at this time.

IN just a few hours Lidl’s version of the Coca-Cola truck takes to the roads to spread festive joy and give away free gifts.

The discount retailer launched its rival to the iconic red Christmas truck this year for the very first time.

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Lidl‘s Freeway cola truck will begin its tour of Great Britain on Thursday.

The festive tour will see the truck visit nine different cities until December 1.

Tomorrow, the lit-up red lorry will pull into Dundee and the fun will begin at midday, ending at 6 pm.

The timings stay the same for all locations.

People who are lucky enough to spot the red truck will find that 2,000 mystery present boxes will be given out.

Each box contains several items from Lidl’s famous “middle aisle.”

However, it is on a first-come-first-serve basis so you must hurry to grab one.

As an extra treat, Lidl has ensured that one in 10 of the boxes contains a “Golden Ticket” as well as the middle aisle freebies.

This ticket will be a coupon worth £100 that can be redeemed on the Lidl Plus app.

Visitors will also find that Lidl will be handing out festive food and even granting wishes.

The supermarket chain said visitors to the truck can also make a “wish” for something they want this Christmas, with the retailer granting a number of them.

The full list of locations the truck will visit, and the dates it will arrive there are as follows:

• Dundee – November 14
• Harrogate – November 16
• Hull – November 17
• Nottingham – November 21
• Wolverhampton – November 23
• Wrexham – November 24
• Luton – November 28
• Bournemouth – November 30
• Southampton – December 1

As Lidl hopes to “highlight the magic of giving, sharing and wish-making this Christmas with a pop-up wonderland at each stop,” Coca-Cola has also detailed some of the plans for its truck this year.

The drinks company confirmed the return of the iconic truck last week promising that the tour this year will be “bigger and better than ever.”

Visitors will be able to take part in festive games and a lucky dip which will give them the chance to win exclusive Coca-Cola merchandise.

A food truck will serve up seasonal food and ice-cold Coca-Cola Zero Sugar drinks.

The exact dates and locations have not yet been released as Coca-Cola urges fans to keep their eyes out for updates on its Instagram and X pages.

Last year, the truck visited some of the UK’s most major cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester.

It started on November 23 and ended on December 3, so the wait should not be too long.

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