The Norfolk Household Support Fund (VCSE crisis funding), funded through the Norfolk County Council Cost of Living Support Scheme, is returning to help with the rising cost of household bills. This round of funding can support any households who are particularly vulnerable to increasing costs of living.
The Household Support Fund has been created to provide a straightforward route for frontline Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to deliver vital and immediate financial support with household bills to people they support. This funding is not means tested but organisations will need to have an understanding of the circumstances of the households they wish to support before applying.
This funding is to complement the existing support provided through group’s services, which should include signposting and provision of information to those who are particularly vulnerable to the increasing cost of living.
Norfolk VCSE organisations can apply for grants with a maximum value of £100 per household, to support people who have been identified as particularly vulnerable to the cost of living crisis with costs such as food and energy. Please use the Guidance linked below to see how this funding can be used to support household expenses.
This funding has been made possible by Norfolk County Council working with the Department of Work & Pensions on the Household Support Fund.
Household grants must be fully spent by Tuesday 31st March 2026 at the latest, but we encourage you to distribute this funding as soon as possible.
Who can apply?
Funding will be available to VCSE organisations taking an active role in responding to the growing needs in their community. Applicants are expected to already be connected to the households they aim to help through their other support services/ activities and have an understanding of their needs. Your organisation should be in a position to act promptly to provide support to meet immediate needs once funding is awarded.
If you are a volunteer or informal (unconstituted) community group – such as a Good Neighbour Scheme – that is aware of people in your community who would benefit from this support, you may be able to connect with another local charity, or community organisation to enable them to receive help through this Fund.
Exclusions
We cannot accept applications from individuals, businesses, local government, public/ private health services, schools or other statutory bodies.
Please note that Parish Councils are NOT able to apply to this round of Household Support.Â
See our general Eligibility Criteria here.
Making an application
Please use the link toward the bottom of the page to access the application form.
Applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis. The fund will be open and under continuous review. Once funding is fully allocated, the fund will close.
To ensure funding is released promptly once applications are submitted, organisations should provide a copy of a bank statement dated from within the last 12 months, and a copy of their governing document alongside their application.
VCSE organisations can apply to support 100 households with a maximum £100 in each application (maximum grant award of £10,000). If a group would like to support more than 100 households, they may do so by reducing the value that each household is supported with e.g. supporting 200 households with £50 each. Each household can only claim one payment, and there is no minimum or maximum number of people per household.
The application form will ask you to provide a breakdown of household demographics. These include households with a member under 19 years old, 65 years and over, with a disability, and other. Where a household fits more than one category, as far as possible, consider who the award is principally intended to support and/or the nature of the support you provide for them. The total of the 4 categories MUST equal the total number of households applied for.
Additional Support
We understand you may be working with individuals and families whose needs exceed household bills support – the Client Hardship Service may be able to help.
Call for Applications
Open
Maximum Grant
£10,000
Who can apply?
Charity, Faith organisation, Social Enterprise/CIC, and Voluntary/Community Group
Eligible Area
Breckland, Broadland, Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, North Norfolk, Norwich, and South Norfolk