Surviving Winter Fund

Description: The aim of the fund is to provide crisis support to vulnerable residents and families struggling through the winter months.

Type: Individuals

Status: Open

Maximum: The grants range from £500 - £5000

Opening: 29/10/2024

Deadline:

Notes: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Surviving Winter Fund supports people most at risk in Cornwall, helping them to stay warm, active and healthy through the winter months. We have received a donation from the Household Support Fund to reach even more vulnerable households this winter.

The Surviving Winter Fund is the equivalent of the Cost of Living for Individuals Fund, specifically for the winter months. We will ask you to report on previous funding before requesting a top-up.

If your organisation would like to apply to administer these funds, there is more information below.

Third party organisations can include but are not limited to:

  • Registered charities and voluntary organisations
  • Schools
  • Food banks
  • General Practitioners
  • Care organisations

How much is awarded and how often?

Organisations can apply for between £500 and £5,000 depending on capacity. They then distribute funds at their discretion to people most at risk, to help them stay well and warm during the winter months. These are normally people who already use the organisation’s service and are known to them.

We ask that small amounts of money, usually £50 to a maximum of £200, are made available. In exceptional circumstances the CCF’ Advisory Panel will consider a request for a larger grant.

Organisations can apply for a top-up grant if the initial amount has been used and reported on. Reporting requirements are below.

The types of support that can be offered:

  • 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. 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 – 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.
  • 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.

Eligible spend does not include:

  • Advice services such as debt advice
  • Mortgage costs

Reporting requirements

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 to-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.

More information and examples of reporting have been outlined in the Surviving Winter Fuel Fund Guidelines.

Further Support

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. •

Apply now

To apply, begin your application online.

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