City Hall announces new partnership to help Londoners, reports Joe Talora, Local Democracy Reporter

*The cost of living is rising at the fastest rate for decades (credit Towfiqu Barbhuiya via Unsplash)*

Thousands more Londoners will be able to access financial hardship advice following £2.3million of City Hall funding for advice services, Sadiq Khan has announced.

The London mayor announced on Friday that City Hall was launching a partnership with London Citizens Advice and London Legal Support Trust in a bid to help reach Londoners who are struggling to access support amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The funding is expected to allow advice services to increase the number of available advisors and enable up to 35,000 more Londoners to access support.

Khan said: “I’m hugely concerned about the impact of the spiralling cost of living on Londoners, with increasing numbers struggling to get by each month.

“I’m determined to do all I can to support Londoners which is why I am providing this funding to boost the vital work of London Citizens Advice and the London Legal Support Trust.

“By helping Londoners to access help and support they are entitled to, we can prevent more people falling into poverty and instead build a more prosperous city for all Londoners.”

Recent polling by YouGov found that 17% of Londoners are “financially struggling” while 30% are “just about managing” with their finances.

Eligible households across the country are set to receive a £326 cost-of-living payment in the next week to help combat the soaring costs of everyday essentials, with a second payment to follow later this year.

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