Published on Thursday 16 June 2022
The Household Support Fund scheme has been extended as the government has allocated BCP Council a further £2.6 million in funding for the scheme to run until 30 September 2022.
The winter phase of the Household Support Fund campaign ran from November 2021 up until the end of March this year and helped vulnerable residents to access community food provision services and afford to keep warm over the winter period.
During this period, £201,848 was awarded by Citizens Advice BCP in grants to 1151 households. The support offered by Citizens Advice BCP included discretionary grants to those unable to afford to heat their home, guidance about affording energy bills and free advice about financial circumstances under their Let’s Talk Money scheme. Dorset Community Foundation allocated £112,000 in funding to community food providers, which helped to support 16,221 residents.
With many local households struggling under the added financial pressure of the impact of COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, BCP Council is now continuing to work with our partner organisations to fund and sustain key services, providing tangible support to those most in need.
Assistance in place under the Household Support Fund includes:
- Additional funding to community food providers to continue daily operations in light of increasing demand
- Discretionary grants and guidance around energy bills from Citizens Advice BCP
- Free advice about financial circumstances under the Citizens Advice BCP Let’s Talk Money scheme
Councillor Karen Rampton, Portfolio Holder for People and Homes, said:
"This winter has been a difficult time for many of our residents, with the Household Support Fund representing a lifeline for those struggling under added financial pressure. We would like to thank our partner organisations for their tireless work providing crucial services to local households and their continued support for our community.
"This extension will ensure that assistance remains in place for our residents, through Citizens Advice BCP, community food providers and other partner organisations. If you struggling to afford food or energy bills, there is support in place for you to access and we encourage you to reach out to our partners for help."
To find out more about the Household Support Fund: https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/householdsupport/.
To find out how to access support with energy bills, please visit Citizens Advice BCP website: https://www.citizensadvicebcp.org.uk/hsf/. Please be patient during the application process as there is currently high demand.
To find out how to access food support in your area, please visit our Access to Food map: https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/accesstofoodmap/.
If you would like to make a donation or give your time to help local vulnerable households, our partners would welcome your support. For more information, visit: https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/News/News-Features/COVID-19/Help-advice-and-support/Help-the-community/Help-the-community.aspx.