Surviving Winter
The Surviving Winter FundA sum of money made available for grant making, often with specific criteria/conditions. is now CLOSED.
Due to the sheer volume of interest we have already received for this fund, we can no longer accept applications. If we are able to re-open this fund, it will be announced on our social media, email newsletter and on our website.
The Surviving Winter Fund 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 Surviving Winter Fund has been supported by Household Support Funding to reach even more vulnerable households.
Quick links
Grant Categories:
- Closed
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:
- Registered charities and voluntary organisations
- Food banks
What it will support:
- Cash awards
- Vouchers
- Tangible items (i.e. clothing or household items)
- Eligible spend includes:
- Food – support with food whether directly or through vouchers or cash
- Energy and water – support with energy costs for any form of fuel used for domestic heating, cooking or lighting. Support with water bills
- 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.
- Wider essentials – including, but not limited to, 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 support housing costs.
- Administrative costs – this includes reasonable costs incurred administering the scheme of up to 10% of the amount requested. For example: staff costs, advertising to raise awareness of the scheme, web page design, printing application forms, small IT changes.
- £175 for households without children,
- £250 for households with up to 3 children and
- £300 for households with four or more children
We ask each organisation to complete a summary sheet when funds are distributed to households, this will be included in your outcome email and will form evidence of the grant spend. We will also send you an online monitoring form to complete where you will be able to attach the summary sheet. Both documents form part of the reporting requirements and need to be completed.
The above needs to have been completed before requesting a top-up.
As part of the Household Support funding, we are asked to capture certain information for Cornwall Council. So please let us know a breakdown of your estimated costs for food, energy and water, essentials linked to energy, wider essentials and housing costs separately for vulnerable households with children, households with pensioners, disabled people and any other vulnerable households. We would also like you to identify how will you be offering this support i.e. through cash, vouchers, tangible items and/or other means.
For example:
14 households with children in total (we need to know how many households in total will be supported and where households are receiving multiple forms of support i.e. for food and electric please only count the household once under the below categories where they will be receiving the greater support from).
- Food: 3 households x £10 each = £30 (distributed by cash)
- Energy and water: 4 households x £20 each = £80 (distributed by vouchers)
- Essentials linked to energy and water: 5 households x £20 each = £100 (distributed by tangible items)
- Wider essentials: 2 households x £30 each = £60 (distributed by other means)
10 households with pensioners
Breakdown like example above.
Without receiving a breakdown like the above example, we are unable to process your application and please remember no double counting!
More information and examples of reporting have been outlined in the Surviving Winter Fund Guidelines.
- Advice services such as debt advice
- Mortgage costs
The Cornwall Worrying About Money? leaflet is a simple resource for people facing financial crisis and those supporting them. It helps to quickly see available advice and support options and which agencies are best placed to help.
Citizens Advice Cornwall can also offer a wide range of support including debt and benefit advice. Call 0800 144 88 48, 10am – 4pm Mon-Fri.
Follow the links below for the information and advice currently available for anyone at risk of or experiencing financial hardship.
Crisis and Care awards
Council tax support
Discretionary housing payments
Community Energy Plus | Independent Energy Experts
Better Off Calculator
Surviving Winter is an annual campaign supported by a wide range of CCF donors. We also receive a donation from the Household Support Fund, from Cornwall Council enabling us to reach even more vulnerable households.
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 this grant has already 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. […]
The Isles of Scilly Charity Trust kept families warm over the winter funded by a £2,000 grant from the Surviving Winter Fund.
The Isles of Scilly Charity Trust supports those living across the five Scilly islands since before they were established in […]
Start an application
This fund is now closed.
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.
If 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, or reach out using the details below.
Lucy DeGlanville
Grants Officer
01566 779333