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Deadline: Thursday 31 October 2024.
The Children’s Society are conducting an inquiry on the future of local welfare and crisis support, focusing on how long-term funding could improve aid for individuals and families in financial hardship.
In September 2024, the Government extended the Household Support Fund (HSF) until March 2025. Since its launch in 2021, the HSF has been a crucial part of local welfare provision, offering a safety net for individuals and families facing financial hardship. The scheme, funded by the UK Government and managed by local authorities, has allowed for swift interventions to prevent worsening crises, addressing key areas such as Free School Meal (FSM) holiday provision, grants to the voluntary and charity sector (VCS), and direct payments to those in financial crisis. However, local welfare provision has faced challenges, particularly inconsistent funding, resulting in a postcode lottery.
The UK’s social safety net extends beyond national programmes like Universal Credit and disability benefits, involving local authorities and the VCS. Essential services provided by local authorities across all four nations include Local Welfare Assistance (LWA) for discretionary crisis support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs), and Council Tax Relief.
This survey focuses on the long-term future of local crisis support. They aim to consult VCS organisations and local authorities to better understand the local welfare and crisis support landscape. Their goal is to advocate for permanent, ring-fenced funding and a consistent national approach, while allowing for local flexibility to address diverse needs. The inquiry seeks to establish a sustainable vision for local welfare, which was challenging during the rapid implementation of the HSF.
The inquiry will explore how local authorities can work collaboratively with the VCS to identify areas of need, target interventions effectively, implement a “no wrong door” approach, and provide comprehensive wrap-around support. They aim to define what an effective local welfare system should entail to aid those facing crisis and destitution.
Local welfare provision refers to the social security safety net provided by local authorities and the VCS to support people in hardship. This includes crisis support delivered by councils through LWA schemes and other forms of support such as DHPs and Council Tax Relief. The local ecosystem should not only ensure families can afford essentials but also help them recover from life events or unexpected costs.
Crisis support is responsive, discretionary help designed to quickly assist people in financial crisis. It must be accessible and swift, with a “cash first” approach enabling a quick, dignified response, supplemented by wrap-around support.
LWA, often referred to as ‘Crisis Support Scheme,’ ‘Local Welfare Provision,’ ‘Help in a Crisis,’ or similar titles, operates with a distinct budget, potentially sourced from the HSF. These schemes offer direct grants, either in cash or in-kind, to those in need, typically with a structured claims process accessible through local authorities’ websites.