Community groups and other voluntary and faith organisations can apply for funding to help them support people affected by the current cost of living crisis.

Calderdale Council, the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s Cost of Living Emergency Fund, and the Community Foundation for Calderdale have come together to help Calderdale residents this winter.

The three organisations have pledged over £225,000 to support voluntary and community organisations to provide practical help to people affected by increases in the cost of living.

The Calderdale Cost of Living Fund is focused on three main areas – Emergency Support; Prevention; and Resilience. Each organisation can apply for funding in one or more of these areas of focus.

Up to £3000 is available for organisations with a track record in helping people, to provide Emergency Support to individuals. This could be support with bills, warm clothing or bedding, or other one-off purchases where people need urgent financial support. This would take the form of a one-off payment of up to £200 per individual.

Between £500 and £5000 is available as part of the Prevention fund, for organisations to prevent people reaching crisis by providing communal warm spaces to reduce domestic energy use.

These warm and welcoming spaces would offer residents somewhere to keep warm, save money on heating and get access to support, advice, hot drinks and in some cases, provide services like Wi-Fi. Funding can be used to extend opening times or increase the facilities or provisions at existing community facilities.

Groups can also apply for up to £15,000 to help build Resilience in residents and support people to move away from crisis through local advice and support services. This fund is for existing providers who are looking to boost capacity over the winter months to meet the increased level of need in Calderdale.

Support in this area may include money management advice, employability and skills support, benefits advice or mental health advice services,

Organisations interested in applying for funding should visit https://cffc.co.uk/calderdale-cost-of-living-fund/ for more information about the requirements and to submit an application for funding.  The deadline for applications is 10am on Friday 9 December 2022  Please contact rachelb@cffc.co.uk or call 01422 349700 for further help with an application.