Applications open for Crisis and Resilience Fund grants

Applications open for Crisis and Resilience Fund grants

Organisations can now apply for grants of up to £20,000 to help residents in crisis, and to support them to build resilience to manage financial hardship.

The council has received funding from the Department for Work and Pensions to provide direct financial support to residents, with £160,000 allocated in this financial year.

To do this, we are launching the Crisis and Resilience Fund Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) funding grant, where community organisations can apply for a one-off payment to help provide crisis support to vulnerable households in most need of support.

There are six areas for which funding is available:
1. Energy costs
2. Food costs
3. Essentials linked to energy and water
4. Wider essentials, such as clothing and toiletries
5. Advice & prevention services
6. Housing costs in exceptional circumstances.

Work targeting preventative services, with the aim of reducing need arising in future, will be given greater priority.

Organisations could provide the support through vouchers, payments, direct food including food at breakfast clubs, job clubs, work skills courses or energy provision. Items associated with food and energy are also permitted such as food packs, ‘warm boxes’, energy efficient lightbulbs, coats and blankets.

Councillor Ejaz Ahmed, lead member for corporate resources, said: “Community groups are essential in providing support to residents, signposting them to services and for offering them a safe space to enjoy activities or meet like-minded people.

“There are a huge variety of supportive community groups in Slough, and we appreciate all the work they do.

“They’ve been instrumental in supporting residents with the cost-of-living challenges and helping them find the support they need. We hope through these new grants, they can distribute the funding to where it is most needed in the community and help to build community resilience to the cost-of-living challenges.”

Those eligible to apply include:
registered charities

voluntary and community groups, which are charitable in purpose

not for profit organisations, such as a community interest company (CIC), Parent and Teacher Associations, and residents’ associations, with a clear social purpose

national charities

faith groups, with a project that is accessible to the wider Slough community.

Find the full eligibility criteria and conditions online.

Applications are open 4 November until midnight on 27 November. Applications will be reviewed and funding decisions announced during the week of 7 December.

Funding will be issued in December and must be used by 31 March 2027.

Complete the application form online.

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Kate Pratt
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