Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, has welcomed announcement by the Government today that it is awarding Cornwall Council a share of £42m to help elderly and disabled residents to make adaptations to their homes so they can live independently and safely.
The £42 million boost in funding was announced will be additional funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), and is in addition to the £431 million the Government has already pledged to the DFG for the 2017 to 2018 financial year.
Cornwall Council has been allocated the fifth largest share of any authority in the country, getting £527,533.
Commenting, Steve said:
“It is good to see Cornwall getting its fair share of the £42m of new Government funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant.”
“This Government is committed to helping older and disabled people live independently and safely and this extra funding will ensure more people in Mid-Cornwall are getting the help they need.”
“Along with my Cornish MP colleagues, I will work with Cornwall Council and colleagues in Westminster to ensure this funding is delivered and allocated efficiently to the people who needed it most.”
The funding for local housing authorities can be used to make a range of adaptations to a disabled or elderly person’s home. Some of these changes are low cost but can make a big difference to the person’s quality of life such as grab rails which can be installed for as little as £30 but can prevent a serious fall.