Crisis Fund
The Crisis FundA sum of money made available for grant making, often with specific criteria/conditions. offers financial support to the people most at risk in Cornwall, helping them to stay warm, active and healthy.
These funds can be accessed through a wide range of referral agencies throughout the county and are to help households genuinely in need of support. This year the Crisis Fund has been supported by the Household Support Funding to reach even more vulnerable households.
Charitable organisations can apply for £500 to £5,000 to distribute small amounts, usually £50 – £300 (please below for further details) to individuals where there is a need for immediate help. These funds are then topped up once the balance falls to £200 or less, on the condition a full list of records are kept and sent to us, a template is supplied.
Each household should only receive one payment per year from either the Crisis Fund or Surviving Winter Fund.
Quick links
Grant Categories:
- Open
Grant requirements
To apply for a grant your organisation must meet the general Eligibility criteria. In addition to this, you must also meet the specific criteria of the grant listed below:
Who can apply:
- Charities, CICs and community and voluntary groups working in Cornwall or The Isles of Scilly
What it will support:
- Charitable organisations can apply for £500 – £5,000 to distribute small amounts, usually £50 to a maximum of
- £175 for households without children,
- £250 for households with up to 3 children and
- £300 for households with four or more children
Types of support that can be offered:
- Cash awards
- Vouchers
- Tangible items (i.e. clothing or household items)
- Projects or activities outside Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
- Commercial profit making organisations
- Organisations with significant free reserves
- Statutory/public sector organisations such as health authorities, schools, hospitals, parish and town councils
- Contributions to an endowment, payment of deficit funding or repayment of loans
- Grant making organisations or bodies who fundraise or distribute grants on behalf of other organisations
- Activities or projects which have already happened
- Regional offices of national bodies that do not benefit local people
- Organisations whose beneficiaries are not people
- Organisations or projects intended to influence people’s religious choices or to promote a particular belief system
- The promotion of political causes.
This is a Cornwall Community Foundation Fund, funded Cornwall Council.
Food: The Fund should primarily be used to provide support with food whether ‘in kind’ or through vouchers or cash.
Energy and water: The Fund should also primarily be used to support with energy costs for any form of fuel that is used for the purpose of domestic heating, cooking or lighting, including oil or portable gas cylinders. It can also be used to support with water bills including for drinking, washing, cooking, and sanitary purposes and sewerage.
Essentials linked to energy and water: The Fund can be used to provide support with essentials linked to energy and water (for example insulation or energy efficient items which reduce bills, the purchase of equipment such as fridges, freezers, ovens, slow cookers or costs associated with obtaining these essentials such as delivery and installation), in recognition that a range of costs may arise which directly affect a household’s ability to afford or access food, energy and water
Wider essentials: The Fund can be used to support with wider essential needs not linked to energy and water, these may include, but are not limited to, support with other bills including broadband or phone bills, clothing, sanitary and hygiene products and essential transport-related costs such as repairing a car, buying a bicycle or paying for fuel. This list is not exhaustive.
Housing costs: In exceptional cases of genuine emergency where existing housing support schemes do not meet this exceptional need, the Fund can be used to support housing costs.
Administrative costs: This includes reasonable costs incurred administering the scheme of up to 10% of the amount requested
Advice services such as debt advice
Mortgage costs
Ready to apply?
If you meet the eligibility criteria and are ready to submit an application, apply at the bottom of this page.
Apply nowNot sure where to start?
If this is your first time applying to us start by reading the Application Process & Guidance. Here you can find useful information and resources to guide you through the application process.
If you’d like to speak to our Outreach Officer you can find contact details at the bottom of this page.
Key dates & decisions
Deposit dates can be vary, however grants are typically paid within 10 days of the panel decision.
Grants FAQ
You might have some questions about the application process, check our grants FAQ for answers to common questions.
Projects crisis funding has already supported:
Cornwall Council’s Housing Support funding improves the lives of struggling families
In July 2023, Trelya were awarded a grant from our Cost of Living Crisis Fund for Individuals which was supported […]
Whole Again Communities support the most vulnerable with a grant from the Surviving Winter fund
Whole Again Communities CIC is dedicated to supporting vulnerable individuals in the Penzance area. The community faces significant challenges, with […]
TravellerSpace support the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community through winter with a grant from the Surviving Winter fund
TravellerSpace is a registered charity supporting the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, our second largest minority ethnic group in Cornwall. […]
Start an application
Before starting an application, check your organisation is eligible, and that have your supporting documents ready.
Accessible application submissions
If you have additional needs and would like support completing your application, please contact us on 01566 779333 or email us at grants@cornwallfoundation.com
Apply now:
You’ve checked our criteria, found the right grant for you and have all your documents ready so let’s start your application.
Apply NowIf you've applied before
You’ve found the right grant so let’s get your application in. When you log into your account you’ll find that key documents are saved along with lots of information you’ve already provided.
Get support applying today
If you aren’t sure if one of our grants is right for you, you can contact our Community Outreach Officer. Shannon can answer your questions and guide you through the process. Book a Grant Support Call.
For questions about this grant contact Lucy on the details below.
Lucy DeGlanville
Grants Officer
01566 779333