Residents facing financial hardship could receive more personalised support as East Cambridgeshire District Council prepares to receive £110,000 a year for three years from the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).
For someone struggling to pay household bills, manage arrears or keep a safe and stable home, timely help can stop a difficult situation from becoming a crisis.
The funding will be carefully targeted so that limited resources can make the greatest possible difference to local people and the wider community.
Depending on the final arrangements for the fund, residents could receive help with essential household needs, limited essential white goods, or arrears where support would prevent further hardship and help them regain stability.
Every person’s circumstances are different, and while the Council will consider each situation carefully, the fund is limited and support cannot be guaranteed.
Residents will not need to work out which scheme or service is right for them before asking for help. By speaking to the Council’s Housing and Community Advice Team, they can receive face-to-face, personalised support to understand their options, check benefit entitlement, maximise income, manage debt and arrears, prevent homelessness and sustain a tenancy. The team can also help people access care, adaptations, appeals and specialist services where appropriate.
For residents living with a serious or terminal illness, or facing other extremely difficult circumstances, support will be shaped around what they need. The Council and Anglia Revenues Partnership (ARP), which delivers council tax and benefits services on its behalf, will aim to make the process as straightforward as possible, explain what information may be required and help identify the most appropriate route to support.
Cllr Anna Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “For a resident who is worried about bills, debt or keeping a roof over their head, asking for help can feel daunting. This funding will help us offer timely, practical support while listening to each person and understanding the pressures they are facing.
“Our message is simple: if you are struggling, please contact us. You do not need to know which scheme or service is right for you before getting in touch. Our team will listen without judgement, talk through your situation and help identify the support that may be available.”
The Council is also about to begin using Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) data to help identify residents who may be most in need or may not be receiving all the support available to them. This will enable the Council to reach out earlier with targeted, one-to-one help, including support to maximise household income and prevent financial difficulties from escalating.
The Low Income Family Tracker is a tool used to identify people who are eligible for benefit support who are not currently receiving it. The LIFT programme is delivered in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council through the Crisis and Resilience Fund, with funding from the UK Government.
Residents can contact the Council by phone, email or letter, attend a drop-in session, or visit a community advice hub. Face-to-face support is available from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Contact details and further information are available on the Cost of Living support pages on our website.