Hello, we have new funds available.
We understand that the cost-of-living crisis persists, and many of the individuals you assist face growing challenges in meeting everyday essentials. In collaboration with Kirklees Council and DWP, One Community have once again launched the Household Support Fund. This financial aid is accessible to charities and community groups, enabling them to provide assistance to vulnerable individuals who are facing difficulties as a result of the ongoing crisis.
Funds can be passed on to households in need of assistance for the following:
Energy and water: The Fund will primarily be used to support energy bills for any form of fuel that is used for the purpose of domestic heating, cooking, or lighting, including oil or portable gas cylinders. It can also be used to support water bills including for drinking, washing, cooking, as well as for sanitary purposes and sewerage.
Food: The Fund can be used to provide support with food, parcels/packs or through vouchers. Applicants should think about how they will support people with dietary requirements.
Essentials linked to energy and water: The Fund can be used to provide support with essentials linked to energy and water (for example warm clothing, blankets, the purchase of equipment such as fridges, freezers, ovens, slow cookers), in recognition that a range of costs may arise which directly affect a household’s ability to afford or access energy, food and water. We will consider supporting households on low incomes to repair or replace white goods and appliances with more energy efficient ones, or to invest in simple energy efficiency measures which will pay back quickly, such as insulating a hot water tank, fitting draft excluders to a front door, or replacing inefficient lightbulbs or white goods. The intention of this is to provide sustainable support which could result in both immediate and long-lasting savings for the household.
Wider essentials. The Fund can be used to support wider essential needs not linked to energy and water these may include, but are not limited to, support with other bills including broadband or phone bills, clothing, period and hygiene products.
Advice services. The Fund may be used to provide supplementary advice services to award recipients, including debt and benefit advice, mental health advice including suicide prevention. Applicants are reminded that the primary intention of The Fund is to provide crisis support for households, and we would expect any advice services to complement this.
Grant amount: £500 – £10,000
Rounds:
· Round 1 Applications open: July 7th, 2023
· Round 1 Applications close: July 28th, 2023
· Funding decision: Week commencing 28th Aug 2023
· Round 2 Applications open: September 4th, 2023
· Round 2 Applications close: September 29th, 2023
· Funding decisions: Week commencing October 30th, 2023.
