About the Crisis and Resilience Fund
The Crisis and Resilience Fund is a initiative from Somerset Council and the Crisis and Resilience Fund Alliance.
The Crisis and Resilience Fund Alliance is led by Citizens Advice Somerset and works with organisations including Age UK Somerset, Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), Somerset Community Foundation, Thrive and other local groups.
Together, we want to help people in Somerset feel supported and make sure everyone can get help if they need it.
Emergency help with essential costs
The Crisis and Resilience Fund helps Somerset residents who are struggling to pay for everyday essentials and need urgent support. It is for people facing sudden financial difficulties, such as loss of income or an unexpected bill.
The fund can help with:
- Food and essential groceries
- Gas and electricity bills
- Other urgent living costs
Citizens Advice Somerset, and other Alliance members, can talk to you about your situation, check what help is available, and help you choose the best option. This might include emergency funding, advice on benefits, debt or budgeting. The aim is to help you manage your immediate needs and improve your financial stability.
Find out more and apply on the Citizens Advice Somerset website.
The grant is funded by the UK Government in accordance with the Funded by UK Government Branding Manual.
Ways the fund can help
Help with Heating Oil
If you are struggling to pay for heating oil, you may be able to get financial support through the Crisis and Resilience Fund. You will need to show that you are experiencing financial hardship.
You may be eligible for heating oil support if you:
- Live in Somerset
- Use heating oil as your main heating source
- Have less than 300 litres of oil remaining
- Are at risk of being unable to heat your home or access hot water
- Receive Universal Credit or Pension Credit, or can show you cannot afford a delivery
- Have savings between £3,000 and £10,000. Your need and situation will be assessed to establish whether using those savings to pay for heating oil would lead to financial hardship in the near future.
You will need to provide evidence to show that you meet the eligibility criteria.
Find out more about heating oil support on the Citizens Advice Somerset website.
Crisis Payments
Crisis payments may be available to offer financial support for families and residents experiencing a sudden hardship. Support may include vouchers or essential goods, depending on your circumstances.
You may be eligible for a Crisis and Resilience Fund payment if you:
- Live in Somerset full-time.
- Are facing hardship due to an unexpected financial shock.
- Have an immediate or urgent need.
- Have an adult in the household who receives a means tested benefit, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), or Housing Benefit or you have a low household income.
- Can show the household does not have enough resources to deal with the immediate crisis without going without essentials, taking on unmanageable debt, or making financial problems worse.
- Have limited savings.
Find out more about crisis payments on the Citizens Advice Somerset website.
Housing Payments
You may be able to get help if exceptional circumstances mean you cannot pay your rent or Council Tax. If you receive Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, which includes help towards housing costs, you can apply for a housing payment.
Housing payments come from a discretionary fund. We assess each application individually based on your circumstances.
For more information, visit the Claiming a discretionary housing award page.
Resilience Support
The fund also supports services that help prevent future financial difficulties. This includes debt advice, budgeting support and other community-based support. Find out more about Cost of living support for Somerset residents.
Support to improve your financial wellbeing
Need help getting back on track financially? If you are finding it hard to manage money, struggling with bills, worried about debt, or finding it difficult to afford everyday essentials, support is available through the Somerset Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Support for older people
If you are an older person and need extra support, Age UK Somerset may be able to help.
Age UK Somerset can provide advice and support with:
- Managing your money
- Food costs
- Heating costs
- Claiming benefits
- Staying connected to your local community
Support may include help with benefit claims, advice on managing household costs and, in some circumstances, small amounts of financial assistance.
Find out more from Age UK Somerset.
Support for families with children
If financial pressures are affecting your family, support is available.
Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) can help families with the costs of childcare, food, clothing and household bills. They can also provide support to help school-aged children access wraparound childcare.
Wraparound childcare provides care before and after the school day, helping families balance work and childcare responsibilities.
Find out more about family support and wraparound childcare on the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership website.
Support for anyone experiencing financial difficulties
If you need help with benefits, debt, money management, energy costs, employment issues or other financial problems, contact Citizens Advice Somerset.
Citizens Advice Somerset can provide a support worker who will work with you to create a personal resilience plan. Together, you will identify the support and practical steps that can help you recover from financial difficulties and build long-term financial resilience.
Support may include:
- Benefits advice
- Debt advice
- Money management and budgeting support
- Help with energy costs
- Employment advice
- Referrals to other local support services
Find out more about support on the Citizens Advice Somerset website.
Support for people at risk of crisis or recovering from crisis
If you are struggling with money and need ongoing support, Thrive can help.
Thrive supports people who want to improve their financial situation, build confidence and become more resilient. They run Talking Cafes across Somerset, which offer a friendly place to connect with others and access local support.
Thrive also works with a wide range of communities and helps people take part in local events, activities and outreach programmes.
Find out more about Thrive support and Talking Cafes in Somerset.
Professional referrals
Professionals can refer people directly to the most appropriate member of the Somerset Crisis and Resilience Fund Alliance.
Referrals can also be made through Somerset Frontline, the Alliance’s shared referral platform, which helps professionals connect people with the support they need.
Find out more about making a referral through Somerset Frontline.
Mental health and wellbeing support
If money worries are affecting your mental health and wellbeing, support is available.
A support worker can help you:
- Manage your money and develop healthier spending habits
- Understand the emotional issues linked to spending and debt
- Maximise your income by checking you receive all the financial support you are entitled to
You can also get:
- Information, advice and guidance on financial issues
- Support to access mental health and wellbeing services
- Help if gambling is affecting your finances or wellbeing
- Support to connect with local community groups and activities
- Access to community meals and food pantries
- Opportunities for social contact and companionship
This support aims to improve your financial wellbeing, reduce isolation and help you build long-term resilience.
Find out more from Mind in Somerset and Second Step Somerset.
Find more cost of living support
If you are worried about money, paying bills or covering essential costs, you may be able to get help from a range of local and national services.
Visit our Cost of Living Support page to explore the support available in Somerset.
