Local Welfare Provision

Supporting Communities fund

Kirklees Council

Supporting people in crisis

TSL Kirklees are accepting applications from local groups

Kirklees Council have provided Third Sector Leaders Kirklees with a grant of £60,000, which is available for local groups who are supporting people in crisis or financial hardship.

This is funding from the Local Welfare Provision budget. It’s in addition to the £32,000 previously provided for emergency food supplies at the weekends during lockdown and helping local groups to continue to support people.

What the fund can be used for

The Supporting Communities fund can be used by community groups in Kirklees for:

  • Supporting people in financial hardship
  • Providing food and essential supplies
  • Set up costs and membership of food share schemes (for example, Fare Share)
  • Building financial resilience

How to apply

The application process is very simple and grants can be approved and given very quickly.

If you would like to find out more, chat through your ideas and apply please contact Bridget Hughes, Supporting Communities Lead:

Email: bridget@tslkirklees.org.uk 

Tel. 07540 434573

Supporting people in crisis – TSL Kirklees

 

Support for individuals facing financial hardship

Kirklees Council

talk message on wall saying we will get through this together

As you are supporting friends, neighbours and communities throughout the community response to Covid-19 we know that many of you will come across people and families in need of financial support.

There are many support services and organisations across Kirklees who can respond to this need, such as the Local Welfare Provision team, local hardship funds or Third Sector Leaders Kirklees.

If you are supporting someone (or know someone) who is in financial difficulty as a result of Covid-19, we recommend that you inform your local Anchor Organisation about this and ask for help.

Your Anchor Organisation should be aware of local hardship funds and how to access them. If a specific circumstance is particularly difficult, they will also be well placed to ask for help or find support where necessary.

You could also consider making a referral through the Covid-19 Community Response helpline. This should help to identify any additional support needs.

There is also financial support available through Third Sector Leaders Kirklees. You can find out more about this by emailing bridget.hughes@tslkirklees.org.uk or speak to your Anchor Organisation.

Getting help when your circumstances change

Kirklees Council

Get Help Now Assistance Road Sign

We know lots of people’s circumstances have changed since lockdown. Many people have been placed on furlough schemes and others have been made unemployed or unable to work.

A range of support and advice options are available for people who have had a change in their employment circumstances.

Where to get help and advice

If you’re helping someone who is concerned or unsure about what support they (or their family) can access, please share this information and guidance.

BetterOff Kirklees

BetterOff provides information on benefits entitlement for people who live in Kirklees, as well as help with applying online. BetterOff also provides information on how to find and apply for jobs.

BetterOff Kirklees

Kirklees Citizens Advice

Our local Citizens Advice is still operating and can provide general advice. Citizens Advice also have specialist services for issues like benefits entitlement, debt, homelessness and employment.

Kirklees Citizens Advice & Law Centre

What to do when your circumstances change

Where someone’s employment circumstances have changed, they should inform all relevant organisations and services. This could be Government services such as HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and Kirklees Council services such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or the Local Welfare Provision (LWP) team. Not reporting these changes could result in benefit overpayments, which will need to be repaid.

By declaring any changes, people will be able to access the right support.

Not declaring a change in circumstances means potentially creating benefit overpayments. It could also mean missing out on Free School Meals, Universal Credit, support with Council Tax, rent or mortgage interest relief, and other financial support.

The best way to be sure is to encourage people to visit BetterOff Kirklees or our local Citizens Advice websites or helplines. This is where people can get help with working out what they are entitled to.