A FUND of �55,000 has been handed to North Somerset Council from the Department of Health to help those most affected by severe weather in winter.

As part of a response to the Government’s cold weather plan for England, the council put in a bid to target specific groups who need help in the winter months. The money was awarded from the Warm Homes Healthy People Fund and the council will be working with partners such as Age UK Somerset and Voluntary Action North Somerset.

Projects are also being developed to increase the resources available for individual and voluntary groups to provide specialist support which will help more than 400 individuals and groups, particularly older people and families with young children.