Herefordshire Council has received an allocation of £1,329,601.78 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the Household Support Fund. In line with DWP guidance most of the funding has been earmarked to support families with children and pensioner households who would otherwise struggle with energy, food and energy bills as well as other essential costs. The decision to support third party organisations will enable those organisations to support other Herefordshire households who are struggling to meet essential household bills.

The funding to third party organisations is an important component of the support that is provided to low-income households. Providing funding to third party organisations will mean that those organisations can provide residents who are struggling with the increase in the cost of living.

Having regard for the time available to deliver the scheme, Herefordshire Council identified existing trusted partners which had already been recipients of government grants to support low income households during the Covid 19 pandemic. The partners have also been identified based on the need to support all the eligible spend categories specified by the DWP guidance and to provide support to vulnerable households, across Herefordshire whatever their household composition.

The amount of funding requested is to support residents until 31 March 2025.

Name of third-party organisation: Age UK Hereford and Localities
Type of Support provided: Home energy checks / energy advice
Amount of Household Support Grant: £51,000.00

Name of third-party organisation: Bromyard Foodbank and Money Advice Centre
Type of Support provided: Emergency food provision
Amount of Household Support Grant: £41,000.00

Name of third-party organisation: Ethos
Type of Support provided: Emergency food provision, household items to reduce energy consumption, budget advice and cooking courses. Emergency household payments
Amount of Household Support Grant: £66,000.00

Name of third-party organisation: Hereford Foodbank
Type of Support provided: Emergency food provision; support for cooking equipment
Amount of Household Support Grant: £71,980.00

Name of third-party organisation: Herefordshire Community Foundation
Type of Support provided: Support for energy; support for other essentials linked to energy and water
Amount of Household Support Grant: £115,000.00

Name of third-party organisation: Ledbury Foodbank
Type of Support provided: Support for food; support for other essentials
Amount of Household Support Grant: £56,000.00

Name of third-party organisation: Leominster Foodbank (including the Money Advice Centre)
Type of Support provided: Support for food
Amount of Household Support Grant: £20,000.00

Name of third-party organisation: Putson Baptist Church
Type of Support provided: Support for food; support for energy; support for other essentials
Amount of Household Support Grant: £79,650.00

Name of third-party organisation: Severn Wye Energy Agency
Type of Support provided: Support for energy; support for other essentials linked to energy and water
Amount of Household Support Grant: £22,000.00

Name of third-party organisation: YES Energy Solutions
Type of Support provided: Support for energy; support for other essentials linked to energy and water
Amount of Household Support Grant: £54,0000.00

Total: £576,630.00

By utilising the funding from government, this will have a positive impact on low-income households by minimising the debt burden on those that struggle to pay essential bills.