Since the pandemic in 2020, the Government has provided extra funding to councils to help families with the cost of living. This funding was called the Household Support Fund. We have used this funding to support families on low incomes in a number of ways. One of the main ways has been through free school meal holiday vouchers, which have helped families with food costs during the school holidays. The Government decided to stop the Household Support Fund at the end of March. It will be replaced by a new scheme called the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
The new fund will be there to support people on low incomes who experience a sudden financial difficulty, such as an unexpected bill or a drop in income.
This could include times when it is hard to afford essentials like rent, food, energy, or water.
It will also provide advice and support to help families check they are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to and to help manage household finances where possible.
Further information about the current Household Support Fund and updates on the Crisis and Resilience Fund, as it becomes available, can be found on our website.