On the 23 July the government informed all Local Authorities that the Covid 19 grant support, including the Discretionary Grant schemes will close at the end of August 2020. To date the take up of the Herefordshire Discretionary Grant Scheme has been low (please see finance section below)

Therefore, the proposed changes will simplify the current scheme criteria to encourage more applications and to expand who is eligible to apply. The Exceptional Circumstances Fund (ECF) will provide a route to support those that have suffered significant hardship, but have not been able to access any other funding, a route to seeking some support

The previous Discretionary Grant Record of Officer Decision agreed to the principle of having an ECF and allocated £649,000 as a budget from within Herefordshire’s Discretionary Grant allocation from government

There are a large number of self-employed, micro and small businesses and charities in the county that due to exceptional circumstances have not been eligible for any Covid 19 grant support to date, threatening their continued viability. Whilst individually these may be smaller businesses in terms of numbers of employees and turnover, 90% of Herefordshire’s business base are micro enterprises. Therefore, the potential closure of these businesses represents a very significant threat to the economic viability of the county

The proposed ECF scheme will enable those that are encountering significant hardship due to Covid 19 and have no other avenue to seek support to make a their case for assistance. Each case will be considered on its own merits, against the criteria outlined above which are in compliance with the national Discretionary Grant Scheme guidance. The weekly panel will consider applications made up until the point the funds are exhausted, or at the point the Discretionary Grant Scheme closes at the end of August 2020