THE council leader says the £1.5m anti-poverty package to target jobs, training, welfare, food and supporting the third sector will be vital in the months ahead.

It has been revised in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak and will now target pressing issues exposed during the pandemic.

Among the projects are a local pilot furlough scheme, new food pantry shops, extra support for private rented sector tenants through the discretionary housing payments.

Employability targeted at young people over is the largest element of funding at £530,000.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: “The anti-poverty fund agreed earlier this year in a pre-Covid world had to change to adapt to the pressing needs our community has now.

“Jobs, training, access to technology, food insecurity and supporting our third sector are priorities and we will use this fund to target these areas."