Local Welfare Assistance Scheme
Case reference FOI2024/00695
Published 14 May 2024
Request
1. What was the total spend on your scheme in 2023/24?
2. How many applications did you receive to this scheme in 2023/24?
3. How many applications were successful in 2023/24?
4. What percentage of your entire scheme (including food, fuel and furniture support) was delivered via: · Cash · Vouchers · In-kind provision of goods
5. How much was spent on the provision of furniture, white goods and furnishings (including flooring and window coverings) in 2023/24? This includes cash, vouchers and the provision of the item itself.
6. What percentage of your furniture and appliance spend only was: · Cash · Vouchers · Provision of the item itself
7. (a) What percentage of your 2023/24 spend was funded by your core spending power (as opposed to additional Govt. funding provided via Section 31 grants, such as the Household Support Fund)
(b) What percentage of your 2023/24 spend came from the Household Support Fund?
(c) What other sources did you use to fund your LWA scheme in 2023/24 and what percentage of the scheme did each source make up respectively?
8. What is your budget for 2024/25?
9. What percentage of your 2024/25 budget is funded by your core spending power? If this budget is not 100% core funded, how is the remaining budget funded?
10. If your LWA budget for 2024/25 is smaller than in 2023/24, what percentage of the reduction is due to the expectation that the Household Support Fund would not be renewed?
The current tranche of the Household Support Fund is due to end on 31 September 2024. If no further funding is provided by central government after this date, how will this affect the funding for your Local Welfare Provision scheme from October 2024 to March 2025? Please select one of the below:
We will spend more on our Local Welfare Scheme
It will have no impact,
spending will remain at the same level throughout the year
Our local welfare provision budget will be reduced by: 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% - Include an estimate of the reduction here: _______
There will be no local welfare provision - we will close our scheme on 1 October 2024
If you have any further comments about LWA support or the Household Support Fund, please share it here.
Response
1. What was the total spend on your scheme in 2023/24?
A: £25,789
2. How many applications did you receive to this scheme in 2023/24?
A: 386 applications to HSFLWP (Household Support Fund & Local Welfare Provision) inbox for assistance with anything other than food or fuel vouchers.
Whilst HSF is available, these are then assessed by LWP for eligibility for either onward referral to external partners holding HSF (charities) ie: Herefordshire Community Foundation, NILS, ETHOS, Mothers Union.
Those not eligible are then considered by LWP.
LWP-149
Onward referral for HSF (charities)- 237
3. How many applications were successful in 2023/24?
A: 287 in total
108 - LWP
179 - HSF (charities)
4. What percentage of your entire scheme (including food, fuel and furniture support) was delivered via:
· Cash
A: 0%
· Vouchers
A: 0%
· In-kind provision of goods
A: 100%
5. How much was spent on the provision of furniture, white goods and furnishings (including flooring and window coverings) in 2023/24? This includes cash, vouchers and the provision of the item itself.
A: £24,810
6. What percentage of your furniture and appliance spend only was:
· Cash
A: 0%
· Vouchers
A: 0%
· Provision of the item itself
A: 100%
I feel it is important to clarify that on application, applicants cannot differentiate between HSF or LWP, the application form is one and the same.
Therefore, the figures I have included above give a true reflection of the volume of assistance being requested to LWP.
If/when HSF ceases, the applications to LWP may continue in current volume and in addition, include the number of Food and Fuel requests that are currently being dealt with by Talk Community via HSF.
7. (a) What percentage of your 2023/24 spend was funded by your core spending power (as opposed to additional Govt. funding provided via Section 31 grants, such as the Household Support Fund)
A: 100%
(b) What percentage of your 2023/24 spend came from the Household Support Fund?
A: 0%
(c) What other sources did you use to fund your LWA scheme in 2023/24 and what percentage of the scheme did each source make up respectively?
A: N/A
8. What is your budget for 2024/25?
A: £20,000 net of staffing costs, £39,660 gross budget
9. What percentage of your 2024/25 budget is funded by your core spending power?
If this budget is not 100% core funded, how is the remaining budget funded?
A: 100%
10. If your LWA budget for 2024/25 is smaller than in 2023/24, what percentage of the reduction is due to the expectation that the Household Support Fund would not be renewed?
A: N/A
The current tranche of the Household Support Fund is due to end on 31 September 2024. If no further funding is provided by central government after this date, how will this affect the funding for your Local Welfare Provision scheme from October 2024 to March 2025? Please select one of the below:
We will spend more on our Local Welfare Scheme
It will have no impact, spending will remain at the same level throughout the year
Our local welfare provision budget will be reduced by:
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% - Include an estimate of the reduction here: _______
There will be no local welfare provision - we will close our scheme on 1 October 2024
A: No change to funding in 24-25.
If you have any further comments about LWA support or the Household Support Fund, please share it here.
A: There will be no local welfare provision - we will close our scheme on 1 October 2024
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.