Coventry City Council

Community Support Grant

Coventry City Council's discretionary grant for vulnerable residents on Universal Credit or Pension Credit who need essential household items to set up or stay in a home: for example after leaving temporary, homeless or hostel accommodation, hospital, prison or care, as part of a planned resettlement, or under exceptional pressure such as family breakdown, fire or flood. It is not cash: the Council orders goods from a fixed list (cooker, fridge freezer, washing machine for some households, seating, beds, bedding, cot) and has them delivered. Nothing is repaid. Charities and support workers can apply on a resident's behalf.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Amount not specified; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Light; short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

Coventry residents (including the address they are moving to; people fleeing domestic violence or resettling into the city are considered) who receive Universal Credit or Pension Credit (the policy also lists Income Support, income-based JSA and income-related ESA, or expect to receive one) and meet one of the scheme's purposes: leaving temporary, homeless or hostel accommodation; leaving accommodation with significant care or supervision such as hospital or prison (and expecting discharge within six weeks); setting up home through a planned resettlement programme run by a council, voluntary organisation, housing association or charity; staying in the community rather than entering residential or nursing care; or easing exceptional pressure on the person or family, such as relationship breakdown, domestic violence, fire or flooding
The scheme is discretionary and ends for the year once the budget is spent
Service providers such as charities and housing support workers can apply for a customer

What it funds

Essential household items, from a set list, chosen for the household's size and what the tenancy already provides:

Gas or electric cooker (with installation)
Washing machine (for households with children, or where a medical condition means more than average laundry)
Fridge freezer
Seating (armchair, 2-seater sofa or 3-seater sofa depending on household size)
Single bed(s) or double bed with mattress
Bedding
Cot and mattress

Awards are goods ordered and delivered by the Council; no cash awards are made. The policy also mentions help with travel to visit a terminally ill relative, a relative's funeral, or a child living with another parent pending a court decision, as an example of easing exceptional pressure.

What it will not fund

Cash awards
People moving outside the Coventry local authority area
Crisis needs for food, gas or electricity (other support applies)
Replacing damaged, broken or worn items
Flooring, curtains or any item not on the application form or essential items list
Needs that can be met from another source, including the applicant's savings

How to apply

Check the eligibility criteria and the essential items list
Apply online through the Council's Crisis and Resilience Fund application form (choose Community Support Grant), giving as much information as possible; a service provider can complete it on the customer's behalf
If you cannot apply online, call 024 7683 3773 (11am to 1pm, Monday to Friday) for a phone application; the team adds you to a call-back queue
Provide any supporting evidence the team asks for, usually within 5 working days
The Council aims to write with its decision and review rights within 14 days of having all the information; if successful, goods are ordered and delivered

If you are in crisis and need food, gas or electricity, this scheme cannot help; the Council's cost of living support pages list other help. Out of hours, homelessness: 024 7683 4025.

Have ready

Supporting evidence as requested by the Council (requested first by phone, due within 5 working days)

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