Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

Oil Crisis & Resilience Fund: Support with heating oil costs

One-off grants of up to £400 per household for Cambridgeshire residents (not Peterborough) who rely on heating oil for their home or hot water, are on (or eligible for) Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-based ESA, face exceptional financial pressure and have 150 litres or less of oil left. Residents can apply directly, or a voluntary sector organisation or local authority can refer them; payment goes to the resident or the referring organisation. The fund is rolling, may close at short notice when money runs out, and aims to respond within 48 hours.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £400; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Light; short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

Individuals and families living in Cambridgeshire (excluding Peterborough) who rely on heating oil to heat their home and/or water, are facing exceptional financial pressure or a financial shock, have 150 litres of oil or less left in their tank, and receive or are eligible for Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-based Employment and Support Allowance
Residents can apply directly, or be referred by a voluntary sector organisation or local authority that has assessed and can verify that they are in extreme crisis and need immediate help (the referrer must have no private or family relationship with the person, keep records of referrals and check eligibility)
One grant per household

What it funds

A one-time grant of up to £400 per household towards heating oil costs for residents who are struggling to heat their home and/or water because of significant rises in oil prices.

What it will not fund

Households that do not rely on heating oil for their home and/or water
Peterborough residents
Households that have already received a grant from this fund
Individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
Payments to Electronic Money Institutions (only licensed banks covered by the Financial Services Scheme)

How to apply

Check the eligibility criteria on the fund page (oil-heated home, qualifying benefit, 150 litres or less of oil left, Cambridgeshire address outside Peterborough, no previous grant)
Choose the resident form or the referring organisation form and enter your email address; CCF emails a link to the online application
Complete the form and attach the required documents, then submit
CCF emails within 48 hours with an approval, a decline or a request for missing documents; reply to that email with any missing documents (another 48 hours)
Be ready for a phone call to verbally verify the bank details
If approved, the grant is paid by BACS to the resident or to the referring organisation to pass on

Do not submit duplicate applications; this delays processing.

Referring organisations new to CCF must also supply CCF's standard organisational documents (application guidance, Step 2) before applications are processed.

The fund may close at short notice when funds are exhausted. For other help, the page signposts Citizens Advice Rural Cambs, Cambridge & District CAB, Cambridgeshire County Council and CLAS.

Have ready

Residents: evidence of receiving or being eligible for Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-based ESA (e.g. a recent Universal Credit statement with name and address)
Residents: recent proof of address in Cambridgeshire
Residents: proof the property relies on oil for heating and/or hot water (e.g. a previous oil bill with your address)
Residents: evidence of 150 litres or less of oil in the tank (e.g. a time-stamped photo)
Bank paying-in slip or bank statement from the last 3 months for the resident, or for the referring organisation if it is to be paid

Referring organisations only need to supply the bank paying-in slip or statement (they confirm eligibility themselves). Emails or Word documents with bank details typed in are not accepted; incomplete documentation delays or leads to rejection.

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