Winter Support Fund 2024/25 – An online application process for local groups
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Hammersmith & Fulham Council, in partnership with H&F Giving, have launched the Winter Support Fund 2024/25 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.
The funding criteria
Priority
The Winter Support Fund 2024/25 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 equally across each of these three priority areas:
- Older people (65+)
- Families, which includes:
- single parents
- households with Disabled children
- large families with children under 5 years old
- Other , which includes:
- single-person households without dependents
- unpaid carers (adults or children)
- households with Disabled adults
- Disabled and long-term ill residents
- care experienced young people
- individuals fleeing domestic violence or facing other community safety issues
Support is not restricted only to households in receipt of benefits.
Types of support
The support can be delivered through vouchers or cash to households or by offering a helping hand.
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:
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)
Timeline
All funds must be spent or committed before 31 March 2025. The activity funded and final monitoring report should be completed and submitted by 11 April 2025.
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 2025.
Applications now open until midday Tuesday 7 January 2025.
Note: The funding is provided by Department of Work & Pensions.
FAQs and Guidance
If you have any queries about your project’s eligibility, or for support in completing the form, please contact Sophie, Administrator, at [email protected] or on 07881 103827. Please note our offices are closed between 25th December-2nd January, so we will be in touch as soon as possible in the new year.
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. 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.
