Additional support for residents from £284K HSF money

28 October 2024

Vulnerable households struggling with the cost-of-living crisis will benefit from the redistribution of Household Support Fund (HSF) money provided to North Northamptonshire Council by The Department for Work and Pensions.

Part of the underspend is being used to ensure that all eligible claims for ongoing applications for payments for Financial Aid Support can be made.

In addition, funding is being provided to food banks and other organisations who provide residents with a hamper of store cupboard items.

HSF underspend is also being re-directed to Warm Spaces and other community organisations offering food or meals during the winter period, including Christmas meals.

We resolved to redistribute any unspent money from the last round of Household Support Fund. Once again, we are working with our partner The Daylight Centre Fellowship to ensure that this money will be spent in ways that best benefit the most vulnerable North Northamptonshire residents.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the food banks, warm spaces, charities and community organisations involved. Your work is instrumental in helping us distribute HSF funding to North Northamptonshire residents, where, and how, it is most needed.Councillor Gill Mercer, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing

The underspend redistribution is in addition to funding already provided from HSF to partner The Daylight Centre Fellowship in Wellingborough, which holds this funding and administers it for use by the network of food banks and charitable organisations across North Northamptonshire.

The funding that North Northamptonshire Council has provided through HSF will have a significant impact over the next few winter months in supporting those households or individuals who are directly affected by the cost-of-living crisis and the food poverty which results from it.
We have noted the positive response from organisations receiving the funding and the clear impact it is having in meeting the needs of their own town and rural communities.James Bellamy, Trustee at The Daylight Centre Fellowship

Current Household Support Funding (HSF5) is once again being used to provide support for families during the Autumn school holiday. Vouchers for children who receive free school meals have already been distributed to eligible families.

It is vitally important as a council that we do all we can to help our residents who are struggling financially from the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, particularly those with young families.
This is why part of the current allocation of HSF money has once again been used to provide crucial support to those families with children on free school meals.
I am delighted that we have once again been able to issue holiday support vouchers for the Autumn term break.Jason Smithers, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council