GrantRadar

Bedford Borough Council

Crisis and Resilience Fund Crisis Payments (Bedford Borough)

Bedford Borough Council's discretionary crisis payments for residents in financial crisis or severe hardship, funded by the government's Crisis and Resilience Fund (April 2026 to March 2029), which replaced the Household Support Fund. Two forms of help: cash or voucher payments for immediate needs such as food, energy and hygiene products (up to £200 per person in the household), and white goods, beds and essential household items (up to £2,000 per household). A separate Heating Oil Support crisis payment of up to £350 helps households whose main heating is oil and who are running out. The Council aims to decide within two working days of a complete application.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £2,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Individuals and households habitually resident in Bedford Borough who are experiencing financial hardship or crisis and have no reasonable access to savings, credit or support networks
  • Some people not habitually resident can also apply: former residents with strong local connections living elsewhere not by choice who want to set up home in the Borough; homeless people who lived in the Borough immediately before becoming homeless; people temporarily in the Borough to escape domestic abuse; people in detention who lived in the Borough beforehand; and, very exceptionally, anyone facing an immediate serious risk to health or safety
  • Priority goes to households with children, households with disabled or vulnerable people, people experiencing homelessness, survivors of domestic abuse, care leavers, veterans, and people affected by emergencies such as fire or flood
  • Cash/voucher payments can be made up to 3 times in a rolling 12 months (normally not within 3 months of the last), white goods and household items once in 12 months
  • Heating Oil Support requires: Bedford Borough residence; oil as the main heating; 150 litres or less left (priority under 100 litres); immediate risk of being unable to heat the home or have hot water; receipt of Universal Credit or Pension Credit, or clear evidence you cannot afford the minimum oil delivery; and limited savings

What it funds

Crisis Payments – cash/vouchers, to address immediate and serious risks to health and safety, including but not limited to:

  • Food and essential groceries
  • Water, including for drinking, washing, cooking and sanitary purposes
  • Period and hygiene products
  • Energy (gas/electricity)
  • Emergency clothing
  • Essential travel
  • Basic household essentials in an emergency
  • Crisis Payments – white goods and household items, to establish or maintain safe living conditions, including but not limited to:
  • White goods such as fridge/freezer, cooker and washing machine
  • Beds and essential furniture such as seating or dining furniture
  • Basic cooking equipment
  • Floor coverings, excluding fitted carpets (where a necessity to the person's health and safety)
  • Heating appliances
  • Safety items for children
  • Digital and connectivity essentials such as broadband or phone bills
  • Heating Oil Support Fund: a contribution of up to £350 towards the cost of heating oil

cash/voucher awards are a maximum of £200 per person registered in the household; white goods and household items awards are a maximum of £2,000 per household where multiple essential items are needed (e.g. homelessness move-on), there is a safeguarding risk, or after a fire or flood. White goods are normally bought direct from a supplier, and refurbished furniture may be provided.

What it will not fund

  • Ongoing living costs (non-emergency)
  • Rent or council tax (covered by other schemes)
  • Debt or fines
  • Non-essential items
  • Costs covered by statutory services
  • A need which occurs outside the United Kingdom
  • Travelling to and from school
  • Expenses in connection with court (legal proceedings) such as legal fees, court fees, fines, costs, damages, subsistence or travelling expenses
  • Removal or storage charges when rehoused following a compulsory purchase order, a redevelopment or closing order, a compulsory exchange of tenancies, or under homelessness legislation
  • Domestic assistance and respite care
  • A medical, surgical, optical, aural or dental item or service
  • Work related expenses
  • Investments
  • Cable or satellite television and associated charges
  • Any expense which any public body has a statutory duty to meet
  • Housing costs or arrears of rent, other than minor repairs and improvements to the applicant's own property essential for health, safety or security
  • Taxes or other statutory payments
  • Debts or insolvency costs
  • Home decoration
  • TV licence
  • Care provision
  • Holidays
  • Garaging, parking, purchase and running costs of any motor vehicle, except for emergency travel expenses
  • Applicants with sufficient income, savings or access to a reasonable source of credit
  • Any purpose for which a Crisis Payment was given to the same household in the last two years
  • Costs met by other financial support, including state support (e.g. Council Tax Support, Housing Benefit, Universal Credit or other local provision)

people with No Recourse to Public Funds are not eligible, except in exceptional, discretionary cases under other powers (for example a child welfare concern or eligible care needs).

How to apply

  1. Contact the Local Welfare Provision team on 01234 718033, apply online, or be referred by a support worker or third-party organisation
  2. Provide proof of identity and residency, financial information and any evidence of the crisis
  3. For heating oil help, use the online Heating Oil Support Fund form, with your Council Tax account number to hand

the Local Welfare Provision page also offers a Home in the Community Grant application form (Word) to complete and email to local.WelfareProvision@bedford.gov.uk. Decisions can be reviewed if requested in writing within 5 working days.

Have ready

  • Proof of identity and residency
  • Financial information: income and expenditure via bank statements
  • Evidence of crisis where applicable
  • For Heating Oil Support: proof of oil heating (e.g. a recent oil invoice, bank statement showing a payment to an oil supplier, EPC or tenancy agreement)
  • For Heating Oil Support: a dated photo of the tank gauge showing the oil remaining, and the tank's size
  • For Heating Oil Support: last month's bank statements, proof of income, and details of savings or other assets

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.