Council set to extend contract for crisis household scheme

A scheme which provides furniture and domestic appliances to people in crisis in Liverpool is set to be extended.

The:- 'homes needs' element of the Citizens Support Scheme supports residents who can't afford to buy essential goods including:- a fridge, oven, sofa or bed.

Last year the £1.4 million scheme, which is delivered by Liverpool based community interest company The Furniture Resource Centre, made 12,000 awards.

A report to the Cabinet meeting on:- Tuesday, 25 March is recommending the:- 'home needs' element of the contract is extended for a further 12 months. A fresh procurement process to award a new long term contract will take place later in the year.

Separately, the Citizens Support Scheme also helps people with:- 'urgent needs' including:- food and fuel costs.

Examples of other support provided by the Council to low-income households include:-

The Council Tax Support Scheme; which is 1 of the most generous among big:- 'core' Cities and in the Liverpool City Region. It has recently been changed to give eligible households a 12 month award to provide certainty and help them budget.

In the 2025/26 budget, the Council committed to increasing the size of the Benefits Maximisation Service team by 50%. Over the last year, they increased income for the most vulnerable households by:- £7,643,529; up £433,583 compared to January 2024.

Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Transformation, Cllr Ruth Bennett, said:- "The Citizens Support Scheme is a lifeline for thousands of low-income households in Liverpool. This is a scheme that is discretionary but that we choose to provide because it is absolutely vital that residents; whatever their background; have access to basic household appliances and furniture. It is an integral part of our work to support vulnerable households which also includes:-the Council Tax Support Scheme and our hugely successful Benefits Maximisation Service which ensures residents are claiming all the support they are entitled to.”

Rich Hall date announced for this year's Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones

SOUTHPORT Comedy Festival have announced another big name for this year's Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones MINI.

Multi award winning comedy legend and festival favourite Rich Hall returns with a brand new show:- 'Chin Music' on:- Friday, 17 October 2025,  to  the Southport Comedy Festival Under Canvas, on:- Victoria Park, Southport (PR81RX.)

The Montana native is renowned for his expertly crafted tirades, quick fire banter with audiences and delightful musical sequences. Rich, who has won the:- Perrier Award (Edinburgh Comedy Festival) and Barry Award, (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) has been described as a transatlantic messenger, lampooning each country he visits with his laser-guided observations.

He has fronted the hugely successful BBC 4 documentaries:- Rich Hall's Red Menace, Rich Hall's Working For The American Dream, Rich Hall's Countrier Than You, Rich Hall's Presidential Grudge Match, Rich Hall's California Stars, Rich Hall's You Can Go To Hell, I'm Going To Texas, and Rich Hall's Inventing the Indian.

In addition, he has appeared on:- BBC One's QI, Live At The Apollo and Have I Got News For You, he wrote and starred in his own reoccurring BBC Radio 4 show Rich Hall's (US Election) Breakdown and has penned articles for The Guardian and The Sunday Times.

For TV, Rich has acted in the Peacock's dystopian thriller Brave New World, hit Disney+ series Extraordinary, ITV2 sitcom Cockroaches and in Comedy Central's Drunk History UK and lent his voice to characters on CITV's Thunderbirds Are Go and Cartoon Network's Elliot from Earth.

For tickets to see the Rich Hall visit the Southport Comedy Festival's website.

Rich is the sixth name to be announced for this year's event. Rich will be joining festival favourite and King of Live Comedy Jason Byrne, Multi award winning comedian and broadcaster Mark Steel, internationally acclaimed Irish comedian Ardal O' Hanlon, best known for his starring roles in Father Ted, Death in Paradise and Derry Girls, Persian Powerhouse and Star of the Silver Screen Omid Djalili and comedian and star of Strictly Come Dancing Chris McCausland.

The 14 annual Southport Comedy Festival will run from:- 3 October until:- 19 October 2025. The entire festival will be staged for a 5th year in a giant luxury heated and seated marquee Courtesy of Elite Marquees in Victoria Park, home of the world-renowned Southport Flower Show.