The council has joined up with Lightning Reach, a financial support portal where residents can easily find and apply for a range of help.
Individuals can complete a profile by answering a simple 10–15-minute questionnaire.
Once the profile is complete, they will be able to see the available support they may be eligible for in one place, get updated when more support is added, and apply for multiple sources of support directly through the portal.
This can include targeted help with energy bills, home improvements to boost energy efficiency, warm clothing, and essential winter supplies.
The council is training some of its housing officers on the system, so they can use it for their clients, or direct them to try the portal themselves.
Councillor Paul Kelly, lead member for housing, highways, planning and transport, said: “It is fantastic to have such a portal where residents can find out about a variety of support and only need to make one profile to be able to start applying.
“Our housing team is taking part in a six-month trial with Lightning Reach and we hope it will help a lot of residents to get some extra financial help, particularly around energy bills in these colder months.”
The Lightning Reach portal features more than 2,500 support schemes including grants from charities, local council funding and support with utility bills, including social tariffs.
Anyone who needs financial support to help pay for an unaffordable or unexpected cost, for example, utility bills, disability adaptations or replacement furniture/white goods, can be signposted to use the portal.
To find out more about making a profile, visit the Lightning Reach website.