Wiltshire-based charity welcomes new financial crisis support scheme
The Crisis & Resilience Fund aims to provide direct cash help and long-term support to those in financial difficulty
A new financial support initiative called the Crisis and Resilience Fund will launch in England on the 1st April, replacing the existing Household Support Fund, which has been in place for several years.
The fund will provide councils in England with ring-fenced money to help people at risk of financial crisis or directly facing one.
Councils will be advised by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to provide support in the form of a cash payment as the primary option, rather than food parcels or supermarket vouchers.
This approach aims to offer flexibility, choice, and dignity to individuals seeking help.
Beatrice Orchard, Trussell's head of programme focused on Social Security policy, highlighted the importance of cash support, saying it allows recipients to handle urgent financial needs and reduces the stigma associated with reaching out for help. She explained, “It’s the fastest form of support and provides the most choice.”
Crisis and long-term support
The Crisis and Resilience Fund will also connect people to longer-term advice and services, including housing guidance, employment support, and help identifying eligibility for financial benefits such as Universal Credit or personal independence payments.
Ms Orchard said this dual approach could be transformative, especially for those facing income shocks like job loss, health problems, or unexpected expenses.
She added that councils will promote the availability of this support, helping local organisations and charities to direct people in need.
Moving forward with certainty
One key feature of the fund is its three-year funding commitment from central government, providing councils in England with greater certainty to plan and deliver support effectively.
Ms Orchard expressed optimism about this development, saying: “They’ll be able to really plan how they’re going to get this support out to people and how they’re going to do that really well over the next three years.”
While Ms Orchard welcomed the fund’s focus on immediate financial pressures and building resilience, she noted further improvements are required in the overall Social Security system to reduce reliance on emergency food aid. “Food banks shouldn’t have to step in to fill that gap in a crisis,” she said, emphasising the need for changes to prevent financial hardship altogether.
With its emphasis on dignified and direct support, the Crisis and Resilience Fund is expected to provide a vital lifeline to households struggling to make ends meet.