Hampshire County Council has unveiled a £12.5 million support package to help vulnerable households struggling with rising costs, funded through the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund.
The comprehensive initiative will operate until March 2026 as part of the County Council’s broader connect4communities programme, which assists low-income households with essential needs such as food and fuel. The funding will provide both immediate crisis assistance and longer-term preventative measures for households in need, including families with children, unpaid carers, care leavers, people with disabilities, pensioners, and those experiencing unexpected financial difficulties.
Hampshire’s network of community pantries – member-based alternatives to supermarkets offering affordable essentials whilst reducing food waste – will receive more than £1 million in funding.
The County Council will collaborate closely with schools, borough and district councils, and voluntary organisations to deliver the support. A portion of the funding will also be available through an application-based scheme, allowing residents to request assistance directly.
Councillor Roz Chadd, the County Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Children’s Services, said: “This funding serves as a vital lifeline for numerous households across Hampshire. We are dedicated to ensuring support reaches those who need it most – whether that’s assistance with heating bills, food, or essential household items. Our approach combines immediate relief with longer-term solutions to help build resilience and reduce future hardship.”
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Key elements of the support package include:
£5.6 million in direct crisis support through grants to:
- Schools, colleges, and early years settings to support vulnerable families
- Organisations supporting unpaid and young carers
- Citizens Advice East Hampshire to provide utility support and eligibility checks, assisting approximately 3,000 households
- District and borough councils to support residents with exceptional housing costs
- The Environment Centre to provide energy-related support and essential heating system repairs for over 280 households
£1.9 million for County Council-led crisis support, including:
- Food vouchers, essential items, and help with bills to support families and households involved with children’s social care services
- Support with fuel and energy costs for adults who receive social care (but are not living in care homes), and vulnerable adults who don’t currently receive care or who come to adult social care services in crisis
£1.5 million for preventative support, such as:
- Financial advice, digital inclusion services, and community wellbeing initiatives
- Local Children’s Partnerships to support HSF delivery, including signposting and referring to direct support and promoting community-based organisations
- Citizens Advice services to offer financial and fuel poverty advice and crisis support
- Basingstoke Voluntary Action to assist voluntary and community groups across Hampshire with access to grant funding
£1.8 million in delegated grants to community organisations including:
- Local community groups providing advice about food or fuel poverty
- Organisations helping vulnerable people across the county with food and fuel support
- Community groups that help people obtain essential household items (such as white goods or carpets) when they cannot afford replacements
- Community pantry schemes
The remaining portion of the grant will be retained for administration to ensure effective delivery and oversight of the programme.
The Household Support Fund forms part of a national £742 million package announced by Government in March 2025. Hampshire’s allocation of £12.56 million will support residents through collaborative, community-based solutions.
For more information on how to access support, visit: www.hants.gov.uk/connect4communities.
