Barking and Dagenham Council is continuing its commitment to support residents facing financial hardship and rising living costs through £3.8million in help from the Government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) for 2025/26.
The £3,800,00 allocation is being used to provide both immediate crisis support and longer-term preventative help, ensuring as many residents as possible across the borough can access the essentials they need while building greater financial resilience.
At the heart of the programme is an open application scheme allowing households to apply for discretionary financial support including for utility bills, food and wider essentials, white goods and essential household items, and housing related costs. Support for digitally excluded households is also provided through the Council’s outreach services.
The scheme provides crisis support to vulnerable households most in need. Alongside this, the fund is also being used preventatively, helping households avoid falling into crisis in the first place. Over £500,000 has already been paid directly to residents using a cash-first approach , a model first adopted by Barking and Dagenham and now recognised nationally as good practice for discretionary funds.
The council continues to strengthen partnership working and collaboration across the borough, working closely with voluntary and community sector organisations, schools, youth services, advice providers and housing partners to reach residents who may otherwise struggle to access support.
Twenty new local organisations have been onboarded this year, helping to extend the reach of the fund into neighbourhoods and communities, including those considered hard to reach.
Supporting young people has also been a central focus of this year’s funding. HSF investment is helping ensure children and young people can access food, enrichment activities, mentoring and employment support. This includes:
- Funding for Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance, where 95% of participants receive Free School Meals.
- School inclusion and food poverty support through Youth League UK.
- A winter hot meals programme at Future Youth Zone, supporting up to 12,000 young people.
- Targeted support for care leavers and young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), delivered with Beam and other partners.
- Respite care and inclusive programmes for young people with disabilities through AB Phab Youth Club.
- Financial support has also enabled youth participation, helped tackle digital exclusion, supported travel costs, and provided clothing and equipment for education, training and employment.
The council is ensuring residents of all ages and in all corners of the borough are being supported. The fund is also being used to boost income maximisation and welfare take-up, including pension credit and winter fuel payments, through targeted campaigns and specialist advice services. The Pensioner Grant Project has supported 1,700 residents alone, with over £400,000 in funding.
Councillor Saima Ashraf, Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, said: “We know that many residents in Barking and Dagenham are still feeling the impact of the cost of living. This £3.8million Household Support Fund allows us to act quickly to support families with the essentials they need, while also investing in longer-term, preventative solutions.
“What makes our approach different is our strong partnership working. By collaborating with voluntary organisations, schools, youth services and advice providers, we are reaching deeper into our communities and supporting residents who might otherwise go unseen.
“From direct cash payments and food support to youth programmes, advice services and homelessness prevention, we are using this funding to support as many residents as possible and to build resilience across our borough.”
Residents who are struggling and would like to find out more about available support can visit the council’s website at https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/household-support-fund-hsf