Issue - decisions

The Household Support Fund (HSF), first introduced in 2021/22, is funding that is made available via Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England to provide crisis support to vulnerable households in the most need with the cost of essentials. The secondary objective is to provide preventative support to prevent vulnerable households from falling into – or falling further into – crisis.

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) has been allocated £6,507,891 for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The allocation of this funding has been agreed by the GCC’s relevant Cabinet member which includes a sum of £ £1,424,000 allocated to the six district councils to enable them to provide their own localised schemes to support vulnerable people.

A sum of £262,329.50 has been allocated to Cheltenham Borough Council to cover the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The Council was notified of this allocation on 22 April with the request to submit a delivery plan.

Previous allocations of HSF were agreed by Cabinet in December 2022, June 2023, and July 2024.

This decision report sets out the allocation, distribution and monitoring of the grant.

To approve the proposals for the allocation of Household Support Fund 2025/26 for the award of grant made by Gloucestershire County Council on behalf of the Department of Works and Pensions under the Household Support Fund Programme 2025/26 as set out as set out in section 3 and Appendix A;
To delegate authority to the Head of communities, wellbeing & partnerships in consultation with the Cabinet Member Safety and Communities to submit the delivery plan to Gloucestershire County Council;
To delegate authority to the Head of communities, wellbeing & partnerships in consultation with the Cabinet Member Safety and Communities to enter into grant agreements with the provider organisations to deliver the Household Support Fund Programme 2025/26.