Crisis and resilience grants launched

Swale Borough Council is launching four new grant schemes to help local charities and community groups support residents through financial crisis and help build future resilience.

Funded by the government’s new Crisis and Resilience Fund, which replaces the Household Support Fund, the money provides an essential safety net for people who need immediate financial help, while funding projects that will provide holistic support for residents with the aim to build long-term financial resilience.

The council is calling on local not-for-profit organisations to apply for the funding for projects that help people facing financial hardship, boost skills and employment, offer advice or further develop existing one-stop locations for holistic support.

The grants will help groups support residents with short-term emergencies while providing the advice, skills, and support they need to be able to better navigate future financial shocks.

Organisations can apply for four different grants, and the council welcomes joint bids from groups wanting to work together:

• Food and Wrap-around Support Grant: Groups can apply for up to £25,000 to provide food and extra support. This money helps people facing immediate financial crisis, with things like food parcels, while offering wraparound support and education that works towards reducing the long-term reliance on emergency aid.
• Advice Services Grant: Up to £25,000 to offer advice services. The funding will help provide tailored advice, early intervention and prevention and reduce long-term reliance on emergency aid through things like budgeting and employment support, income maximisation and building financial resilience.
• One Swale Network Grant: Up to £10,000 is available to set up three community support access points in Sheppey, Faversham, and Sittingbourne. These access points will act as a single, friendly "front door" where residents can easily get advice on money, wellbeing, and jobs all in one place.
• Swale Skills and Employment Network Grant: Up to £10,000 is available to set up a borough-wide network that connects people with training and job opportunities.

Residents will be able to benefit from the projects once they have launched and can find out the latest by visiting the council’s crisis and resilience fund webpages.

Cllr Hannah Perkin, chair of the council’s housing, health and communities committee, said:

“These grants will help our amazing local charities provide the services, advice, and tailored support that many people in Swale rely on.

“While practical help like food banks and fuel vouchers is incredibly important when people face a crisis, these grants go a step further. We want to tackle the root causes of hardship and focus on early help.

“The new skills network will help people build the confidence they need to find work, and the One Swale network will give everyone safe spaces to find advice on a range of issues.

“Ultimately, we want to give people the support and knowledge they need to improve their finances not just for today, but for the rest of their lives.”

Local community groups and charities can apply for a grant before Tuesday 23 June 2026 by visiting the council’s grant page.

The council has already started using the CRF to support local people receiving benefits who are struggling to find or stay in accommodation.

The short-term housing payments help people in exceptional circumstances cover the difference between their benefits and the cost of affordable housing.

The payments are designed to give low-income households time to access the advice and support needed to change their circumstances, helping them stay in their current home or find other affordable accommodation.

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