Winter Support Fund 2025/26 – An online application process for local groups

About the Winter Support Fund 2025/6

Hammersmith & Fulham Council, in partnership with H&F Giving, have launched the Winter Support Fund 2025/26 awarding grants to community organisations which support those most in need in the local community. This will be through direct support to residents needing immediate support or experiencing financial hardship.

The £180,000 Winter Support Fund is being administered by H&F Giving on behalf of H&F Council.

We want to distribute £180,000 to local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations to support households, including older residents, in Hammersmith & Fulham which otherwise might face crisis and to provide them with food, fuel and support for other essential living costs.

Timeline

All funds must be spent or committed before 31 March 2026. The activity funded and final monitoring report should be completed and submitted by 13 April 2026.

Click here to view the monitoring report template as a guide – please note this may be subject to change and the final version will be provided to successful grant recipients in early 2026.

Applications now open until midday Thursday 4 December 2025.

Reporting

Click here to view the monitoring report template as a guide, please note this may be subject to change and the final version will be provided to successful grant recipients in early 2026.

The funding criteria

Winter Support Fund priority areas

The Winter Support Fund 2025/26 is intended to cover a wide range of low-income households in need as well as prioritising some support for families with children of all ages and pensioners.

For this scheme, support will be directed primarily across each of these priority areas including areas of high deprivation:

Older people (65+)

• Older residents (aged 65+)

Families and households with children

• Single-parent households
• Large families with multiple children under 5 years old
• Care-experienced young people or those leaving care

Disabled people and residents with long-term health conditions

• D/deaf and disabled adults
• Households and disabled children (includes physical, learning, or sensory disabilities)
• Residents with long-term or chronic illnesses

We welcome applications that will also support:

Carers and isolated individuals 

• Unpaid carers (adult or young carers supporting family/friends)
• Single-person households (particularly where isolation or vulnerability is an issue)

Residents facing safety or stability challenges

• Individuals or families fleeing domestic abuse or violence
• Residents facing community safety or housing insecurity issues

The priority areas with higher deprivation include:

• Clem Attlee Estate and Edward Woods Estate
• Wards in the north of the borough, such as: Conningham, College Park & Old Oak, Wormholt, White City, and Wendell Park

Types of support

The support can be delivered through vouchers or cash to households or by offering a helping hand.

To note: Last year showed that food was a high priority with over half of the applications and awards being related to this area. We expect a proportionate amount of the funding will go towards food support or to projects that help residents access affordable, healthy food and build long-term food security in the borough.

Eligible spend includes:

Food

Support whether in kind or through vouchers or cash

Energy Costs

Help towards the costs of utilities e.g. energy, water, heating bills

Essential Living Costs

Help towards essentials such as warm clothing, blankets, period and hygiene products, the purchase of replacement and energy efficient equipment (fridges, freezers, ovens, slow cookers)

Help with bills including broadband or phone bills, transport costs and repairs

Other

Limited administrative costs, such as staff costs, communications materials, small IT changes.

Exclusions – The fund cannot be used for:

People with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

Please note that funding from the Household Support Fund (HSF) cannot be used to provide direct financial assistance to individuals or households who are designated as having No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). This restriction is set by central government funding rules and applies to all councils distributing HSF.

Mortgage payments

Furniture and household items for residents living in private rented furnished accommodation or furnished temporary accommodation, where this is the responsibility of the landlord

Personal debts – residents should be referred to the Council or to appropriate agencies for support

Parking fines, Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) or congestion zone charges

Court expenses (legal proceedings) such as legal fees, court fees, fines, costs – unless related to an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA)

FAQs and Guidance

If you have any queries about your project’s eligibility, or for support in completing the form, please contact Georgia, Grants & Community Manager or Mary, Administrator at [email protected] or call 07881 103827.

We’ll be hosting an online info session on Wednesday 26th November 2025. Click here to sign up.

Important Information – applying for funds

We have £180,000 available for Winter Support Funding. Organisations with a track record of supporting residents in Hammersmith & Fulham who are experiencing financial hardship are invited to apply for up to £10,000. We also welcome applications for smaller values. Funding requests must not duplicate provision currently funded by any other LBHF council grants.

We encourage applications in partnership with another organisation which delivers in Hammersmith and Fulham, particularly in areas of high deprivation and need. The organisation making this application will be the lead group and will be accountable for the grant. We also encourage applications from organisations who have not previously received funding from the council.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED