Warwickshire community groups invited to apply for funding to help residents in financial hardship

Warwickshire County Council’s new crisis and resilience community grant fund supports voluntary and community sector groups whose work can help residents withstand and recover from financial shocks, such as a sudden loss of income or an unexpected expense.

The council said the aim of the grant fund is to “support activity that moves people from immediate financial hardship towards greater independence and resilience, reducing the likelihood that they will need ongoing crisis support”.

Applications will be reviewed against one or more of the following criteria:

• Help residents afford everyday essentials
• Reduce the need for emergency food parcels
• Improve access to appropriate, high-quality advice services
• Help residents build savings
• Support debt reduction
• Maximise people’s incomes
• Reduce future demand for crisis payments and housing payments

Cllr Mike Bannister, Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for resources and internal affairs, said: “Community and voluntary organisations understand the challenges facing people in their local areas and are often best placed to provide trusted, practical support.

“This £500,000 grant programme will help those organisations deliver projects that do more than respond to immediate hardship.

“We want to support activity that helps people build their financial resilience, access the right advice and reduce the likelihood of reaching crisis point again.

“I would encourage eligible organisations with ideas that can make a real and lasting difference within their community to consider applying.”

Examples of projects which may be eligible for the funding:

• Money management and budgeting support
• Affordable credit and savings schemes
• Teaching skills such as cooking on a budget or digital skills
• Providing warm spaces with access to information about local support offers
• Schemes to transition people away from repeated food bank use
• Outreach targeting vulnerable groups at higher risk of financial difficulties.

Organisations that are eligible to apply:

• Constituted 'not-for-profit' community organisations in Warwickshire
• Non-constituted or new ‘not-for-profit’ groups working in Warwickshire that can be supported by a mainstream service or community group willing to administer the funds through an organisational bank account
• Warwickshire town and parish Councils
• Schools, if applying as a PTA or ‘Friends of’ group.

Applications are open until 5pm on Sunday October 4. For more information or to apply go to: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/managing-money-debt/crisis-resilience-fund-crf/2