The new Crisis and Resilience Fund launched in Wokingham this month. Funded by central government, this replaces the Household Support Fund which has helped us to provide grants and funding to support residents living on lower incomes since 2021.
A small additional payment has been made in light of rising fuel costs, and the old system of Discretionary Housing Payments has been rolled into this scheme.
Residents who are struggling to meet the costs of basic essentials should search for ‘Wokingham Crisis and Resilience Fund’ to find the Council’s information online. (This is the fastest way to get help. Those who are unable to use the internet, however, can call the Council on 0118 974 6000).
Central government have made significant changes to the way that emergency funding is provided via the Crisis and Resilience Fund. This new scheme will only be able to provide one off crisis payments to residents who are facing a financial emergency. The Council will, however, work with those who are not eligible for Crisis and Resilience funding to identify other ways that they may be able to can access support, such as the Council’s Local Welfare Provision Fund or assistance from other sources.
Council action on poverty
Last month the council published a report on progress in tackling poverty, along with case studies to show the difference which is being made by the council and its partners in the Hardship Alliance.
As well as the direct support provided to lower income households from the government’s Household Support Fund, the Borough’s Liberal Democrat administration invested £250,000 into tackling poverty, with an emphasis on providing seed funding for long term projects.
Much of the Council’s focus has been on early intervention and prevention, particularly around debt, housing, skills and food security. Working with our partners in the Hardship Alliance and the wider charity and community sector, we have supported the delivery of projects such as the Roots Community Pantry, debt advice, and the provision of free or low cost school uniforms and other essentials.
Case studies highlight the value of this support to those who are dealing with a crisis.
In one family, an injury which stopped a parent from working led to rent arrears. Food vouchers allowed the family to stabilise their situation until they received their first Universal Credit payment.
In another family, the financial pressures of disability meant that household bills were piling up. A fuel voucher meant that they could heat their home over the winter and gave them the breathing space they needed while one of the parents looked for work.
An older couple, no longer working and facing the challenges of dementia, were put in touch with the Wokingham Dementia care adviser team, and groups and activities which could support them and enable them to keep active. The partner with caring responsibilities was supported to apply for the benefits they needed to pay the bills, such as attendance allowance, carers’ allowance and blue badge application.
In all of these cases, a relatively small amount of money prevented problems from spiralling into crisis.
The pressures of funding cuts
The Liberal Democrats are concerned that central government cuts to funding will affect the support that we can give residents. We will get substantially less with the Crisis and Resilience Fund than we did from the Household Support Fund, and the council as a whole is facing a cut of £43 million over 3 years at a time of rising demand.
Wokingham Borough is facing these cuts because funding is now based on levels of social deprivation, rather than the costs that we face with providing services such as adult and children’s social care and support for SEND children.
High average incomes in the area hide the significant numbers of people like those in our case studies – often unpaid carers, those with disabilities, families with young children, and older residents on very low incomes – whose incomes are too low to meet basic needs such as food, heating and school supplies.
The Liberal Democrat administration and Clive Jones MP have been lobbying the government to consider the real needs of Wokingham people, and will continue to fight for a fairer deal for our residents, so we can continue to support those who need help the most.
By Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth
