Herefordshire Local Welfare Fund
Case reference FOI2023/00275
Published 22 February 2023
Request
This FOI request is for information on your Local Welfare Fund/emergency support provision which will be valuable in gaining a fuller picture of the number of people potentially experiencing destitution in the relevant periods.
Please can you let us know if Herefordshire Council still operates a local welfare or crisis fund, and if so:
- Some basic information on your welfare/crisis fund(s) - For example: name, what it covers, how people can apply, the scope and limitations of the scheme, and of any changes since 2020.
- Number of applications made for crisis loans/grants/vouchers, and number granted, for financial years 2020/1, 2021/2 and 2022/3 (to date).
Response
This FOI request is for information on your Local Welfare Fund/emergency support provision which will be valuable in gaining a fuller picture of the number of people potentially experiencing destitution in the relevant periods.
Please can you let us know if Herefordshire Council still operates a local welfare or crisis fund, and if so:
- Some basic information on your welfare/crisis fund(s) - For example: name, what it covers, how people can apply, the scope and limitations of the scheme, and of any changes since 2020.
Herefordshire Council do still operate a "Local Welfare Provision" (LWP) fund. It focuses on supporting the needs of vulnerable groups of people aged over 16, having lived in Herefordshire for at least 6 months, or with a strong connection to Herefordshire, or those that have been moved to Herefordshire having left custody or care home or are homeless.
The support broadly falls under two overlapping categories of need:
• 'Exceptional Circumstances" - refers to an urgent need which may arise as a consequence of an unforeseen circumstance, emergency, disaster, urgent need that is markedly different from the usual pressures related to managing on a low income. This usually relates to providing food bank referrals or provision of small and basic household items or in some cases clothing.
• 'Community Care' - awards are intended to help vulnerable people live independent lives to remain and become integrated within their community. Community care, for example, covers situations where an individual needs help to stay in the community, cannot adequately look after themselves or has experienced an unsettled way of life. This usually refers to providing, essential household items such as beds, basic furniture and white goods.
The provision of goods that are recycled, reconditioned, clean, fit for purpose (and in the case of white goods, PAT tested), is at the forefront of the provision as we endeavour to keep cost and carbon footprint to a minimum whilst not compromising on the dignity, safety and well-being of our service users.
A significant change since 2020 - the start of the pandemic and an exception to the above, in terms of pre-used items is that if mattresses are required, we would provide only brand new not pre-owned.
We often work with statutory services, local community and voluntary groups, charitable organisations and other interested parties to facilitate this scheme.
We provide signposting to appropriate organisations.
We provide goods and services only, no cash awards.
The service allows only two awards per claimant within a 12 month rolling period - unless exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise.
Clients can apply by completing an online application form found on the Herefordshire Council website or by a simple internet search, or by calling Herefordshire Council. Once the applicant has asked for assistance, they will be directed by the call handler to our Talk Community or Customer Services Team. A member will assist the caller with completing the application form which is submitted and dealt with in the same way as client online self- referrals. We endeavour to respond to each applicant within 24 hours.
Since 2020 Central Government have allocated 3 separate tranches of funding to Local Government in the form of Household Support Fund. In order to ensure that the broadest spectrum of people are able to access this separate funding for assistance, it is divided up across local charitable organisations and the Local Welfare Provision Officer will then assist applicants by referring to the appropriate organisation and working in conjunction with them to ensure that applicants receive the correct help. Our Talk Community at Herefordshire Council colleagues now also have access to some of the funding for use in emergency, crisis situations for providing food or energy vouchers to client in urgent need. Again, Local Welfare Provision Officer, works in conjunction with this service but the Household Support Fund is a fund separate from Local Welfare Provision funding
- Number of applications made for crisis loans/grants/vouchers, and number granted, for financial years 2020/1, 2021/2 and 2022/3 (to date).
The number of completed applications to LWP - 2020/1; 2021/2 and 2022/3 (to date)
2020/21 - 506
2021/2 - 595
2022/3 - 551 to date
The number of granted applications by LWP - 2020/1; 2021/2 and 2022/3 (to date)
2020/21 - 263
2021/2 - 507
2022/3 - 475 to date
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.