Slough Borough Council has been allocated £2.7 million through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) for the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The purpose of the Fund is to support low income and vulnerable households experiencing financial shocks, including pressures arising from increased household costs such as energy and essential living expenses
The locally managed government grant will provide support to a wide range of low income households in our community including:
- timely and effective crisis support to households facing unexpected financial shocks; and
- used to strengthen financial resilience, helping individuals and communities better manage future financial pressures.
This reflects the national shift from short-term emergency schemes toward a multiyear, preventative model of local welfare support.
We will provide support directly to residents, issuing payments or vouchers, work with voluntary and community sector partners, or invest in services that improve financial resilience.
We will address immediate essential needs (such as food, utilities, and housing related costs) and to support longer-term resilience, including income maximisation, debt reduction, and access to wider support services.
The Council will allocate its Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) budget in accordance with national guidance and the required outcomes of the scheme.
Funding will be distributed across the following areas:
Crisis support
- Crisis Payments for residents experiencing financial shock or urgent need, delivered using a cash first approach in line with national guidance.
- Holiday support HAF Programme
- Council Tax Exceptional Hardship Support for households able to demonstrate exceptional financial hardship during the financial year.
- Care Leaver Support for eligible care leavers under 25, to assist with essential living costs including utilities and travel.
Housing support
Housing Payments, supporting residents experiencing shortfalls in rent costs, delivered in accordance with the Council’s Housing Fund Policy and replacing Discretionary Housing Payments from 1 April 2026.
Community and resilience support
- Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) Grants of up to £20,000 per organisation, supporting provision of essential items and services that improve financial resilience.
- Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme Support, enabling delivery of family and child focused activities during school holidays.
Administration
A proportion of funding will be allocated to reasonable administrative costs (capped at 10% of total allocation), including software, staffing, and activity required to deliver the scheme effectively and build local financial resilience.
All allocations remain subject to available budgets and may be paused where funds are exhausted.
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) can be applied for by application, telephone or face to face. It will be awarded at our discretion following an assessment of eligibility. As the grant is for one year, an application will be required every 6 months within the funding period for an award to be considered. Each case will be treated strictly on its individual merits. All those deemed eligible will be treated equally and fairly within the constraints with the CRF budget.