Decision details

To seek approval of the process to distribute additional grant funding received as part of the Household Support Fund.

That the Household Support Fund (phase six) be distributed through:

i.       Purchasing supermarket vouchers, or for opted schools to make equivalent arrangements, for children qualifying for Free School Meals in Bracknell Forest primary and secondary schools. Households will receive a £15 voucher per child per week of the holidays.

ii.     Extending the Local Welfare Scheme provision, available via applications from households in need of emergency help, where assistance cannot be accessed elsewhere.

iii.    The provision of application-based grants to voluntary, community, and faith

sector organisations to build capacity and extend the reach of support to residents.

iv.    Additional financial support to pension age households who do not receive the benefits in scope for the Winter Fuel Payment in 2024 and who receive an

adult care non-residential service.

v.     Should any funding remain unspent toward the end of the grant period, supermarket vouchers may be provided to properties identified in fuel poverty,

or groups not previously supported from the funding.

1.     The (HSF) is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), but local authorities must determine how it is spent within the scope of the guidance issued. The local authority is required by the DWP to create a local eligibility framework to disburse the funding.

2.     Recommendations have been established based on learning from how the previous phases of the funding have used and current pressures facing our communities.

The Members Welfare Advisory Panel and the Welfare service have considered a

range of options for spending the HSF. It was concluded that the other options would

not be as effective as those recommended in terms of efficiently disbursing funds to

those most in need, whilst keeping within the guidelines set out by DWP. The

proposals follow the previously agreed mechanism in distributing preceding tranches

of funding, accounting for the learning from these.

None