A £1 million plan to help Folkestone & Hythe residents facing cost of living pressures and to improve skills and job prospects in the district has been approved.
The green light for the council's investment plan for its share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has been given by central government.
The three-year funding programme enables the council to further work with local organisations - including the Rainbow Centre and the district's three community hubs - to support residents in sustainable ways to feed their families and pay essential bills.
This support could include advice on cooking on small budgets, eating healthy foods and minimising energy use by batch cooking.
The funding will go towards assisting struggling households with practical help such as providing energy-saving devices or assistance with an unexpected and expensive cost, for example repairing or servicing a boiler.
The scheme will also support families by providing beds when children are sleeping on mattresses on the floor.
Upskilling the local workforce will be the focus in the third year of the funding programme. The council has been working with local businesses to identify in what areas they are unable to fill vacancies due to skills shortages.
Automation, for example, has resulted in jobs being lost. Funding will be targeted at reskilling including training in green technology such as installing ground source heat pumps and solar panels and improving skills in conservation and protecting natural landscapes.
Cllr David Wimble, Cabinet Member for the District Economy, said: "The approval of our investment plan for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is very good news indeed. It will enable us to continue and strengthen the help we are providing for residents either directly or through our work with other agencies."
Leader Cllr David Monk added: "The skills element of the funding is particularly exciting. We know that there are gaps between what our local businesses need and what our community can offer so this funding will help to bridge that gap by providing the necessary skills training."