Household Support Fund

There is now a dedicated website for information and advice to help Bradford District residents with the 'Cost of Living Crisis'.

We know that many people in the district are struggling with the rising costs of living, especially the increased cost of fuel and food and the continued financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bradford Council has been allocated funding from the UK Government’s Household Support Fund to help residents who would otherwise struggle to buy food, keep their home warm, pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living costs.

On this page:

Household Support Fund

The UK Government has provided Household Support Funding to local authorities for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Having consulted with local organisations about how best to help people in Bradford District, we have chosen to spend the money in the following ways:

Supporting foodbanks and organisations that help people in need of food

We are providing funding to support local food banks and voluntary and community organisations that support people in need of food.

Anyone in immediate need of emergency food, or low cost food should look at the Bradford Foodbanks website for information on what is available nearby. You can search the website using your postcode.

Some foodbanks and food pantries allow you to refer yourself, others ask for a referral from an organisation that is helping you already, for example a community group, your GP or children’s school. All this information is on the Foodbanks website.

Here is a list of voluntary organisations who have been funded to provide emergency food assistance.

Supporting Welcoming Spaces

We are providing grants of £500 or £1000 to community and faith organisations to provide access to a warm and welcoming space for local people, right through the year.

We have also allocated money to our libraries and museums that are offering warm and welcoming spaces to help with the cost of providing drinks.

Learn more and find your nearest Welcoming Space.

Emergency fuel help

We have a limited fund that may be able to provide emergency help with prepayment fuel meter top ups.

If you have a prepayment meter, please ensure you have contacted your energy supplier to see if they can help. This information from Citizens Advice may be useful.

If you still need help and you are in receipt of one of the following benefits, please contact one of our partner advice services who can offer advice and help:

  • Universal Credit
  • Income based JSA
  • Income related ESA
  • Income Support
  • Pension Credits
  • Tax Credits

Advice Services:

If you pay for your fuel on a normal meter (one that lets you pay for energy after you use it rather than before) you should contact your fuel supplier to ask for help.

See what help has been made available for energy costs.

Essential household goods

The council’s Assisted Purchase Scheme is a low cost solution for people to buy essential items such as beds, electric cookers, fridge freezers, microwaves and washing machines.

Apply for the Assisted Purchase Scheme.

Helping foster carers with fuel costs

We will make two £300 payments to Bradford Council foster carer families in May 2023 and December 2023 to help with the cost of fuel bills.

Foster carers do not need to apply for the payments, they will be contacted by the Foster for Bradford team, who will explain how and when the payment will be made.

Helping carers

We are working with Carers’ Resource to support unpaid carers in the most need with food costs and other related needs.

Supporting the Warm Homes, Healthy People service

We are giving additional funds to the Warm Homes Healthy People Service which works with people who are vulnerable to illness as a result of cold, damp housing conditions by providing energy saving advice and measures to help reduce bills, and helping with heating system repairs.

Supporting child safe sleeping

We are funding a voluntary organisation so they can provide beds, bedding and safety equipment to families in need, with new babies or young children. This is by professional referral only.

Helping care leavers

We are providing financial support to care leavers who are struggling with bills. Care leavers will be contacted directly by the Leaving Care Service with details of the support on offer.

Supporting local organisations through Area Committees

We are providing funds to Area Committees to support their local voluntary and community groups on projects supporting people in need in their area.

Helping low-income households with energy and food costs

In December 2023 we will make a payment to households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction (a reduction in the amount of Council Tax to pay due to low income).

There is no application process for these payments. We will work out from our records who qualifies and send the money automatically.

Details of the amount that will be paid and how it will be paid will be published on this page nearer the date. Please do not contact us regarding this payment as we are unable to deal with enquiries until nearer the date.

Learn more about Council Tax Reduction.

Additional help

Find advice, guidance and tips on the Cost of Living Bradford website.

Check the Help for Households website for the Government's full range of Cost of Living Support.

More advice is available from the Government’s Cost of Living Hub. 

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