This week is Household Support Fund Awareness Week (16 to 22 October).
The week is an opportunity to make sure as many people as possible are aware of the scheme and how they can access the funds.
The funds are part of the latest allocation of the Household Support Fund (HSF) from the Department for Work and Pensions. The Council was allocated a grant of £3m to help local residents.
So far the money has been used for:
- free school meals in the school holidays via supermarket vouchers for families whose children receive non-universal free school meals, vouchers are distributed by schools
- domestic abuse services - via SOLACE and Bexley Woman’s Aid
- unpaid carers
- local foodbanks
- community organisations that specialise in the provision of white goods and furniture
- support for housing costs and homelessness prevention
- help for carers and care leavers
- in Bexley, the funds have been distributed by the Council directly to residents and through local partner voluntary and community groups
Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr David Leaf said:
Our partner voluntary and community groups have been doing a fantastic job in working directly with residents in need to help at this time.
We have worked hard to ensure that the Household Support Fund reaches the people that are most in need of support.
We know that the type of support needed isn’t always the same. Having a range of groups help us distribute the funds seemed to us to be the best way to make sure that we were able to help as many people as possible.
There are still funds available. If you or someone you know are struggling financially and need help, take a look at our cost of living pages and see if the funding could help you and your family."
The local groups in Bexley who have been hard at work sharing the funds with those most in need are:
- Love Bexley
- Lawrence Trust
- Slade Green Foodbank
- Bexley Foodbank
- Carers Support
- Imago (Bexley Young Carers)
Since the funding was announced there have been some great local examples of how the money has been used.
Love Bexley
A mum with two young children moved into an unfurnished property. Through the Household Support Fund, we were able to deliver two toddler beds with mattresses.
A mum suffering from anxiety and struggling with her finances was putting her children first and not eating. A food voucher was issued to help alleviate this stress.
A young mum wasn’t able to get out with her young children as she had no means of taking them. Through the Household Support Fund, Love Bexley was able to provide a pushchair to give her more freedom and help with her mental health.
St Lawrence Charity
A mother with a young baby fled domestic abuse. A cot bed was purchased and delivered using the fund following a referral from a social worker.
Following a referral from a Family Key Worker a three-generation family living together received a bed and a cooker.
A mother and her children moved from a room in a hostel to an unfurnished property and received a washing machine and fridge via the fund following a social worker referral.
Imago
Over 150 young carers who cared for a sibling, parent of grandparent received support thanks to the fund.
The funds have gone towards food and clothing vouchers respite activities.
Slade Green Food Bank
A mother ran into financial difficulty and was also struggling with depression. We were able to give her £100 supermarket voucher via the fund.
A local resident was having problems with electric, water and gas and had gotten into debt. We offered to be with them when she called the companies. Using the fund we paid £100 divided over the three companies and also helped her to set up a payment plan to help pay the rest of the debt off. We also showed her a budgeting tool that she can use.
Carers Support Bexley
Grants were used to help with energy and water costs. Funding for summer activities to provide respite. Essential school equipment for a family struggling with debt. Help towards hospital visits.
The Household Support Fund scheme runs from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2024.