Delegated Fund allocation criteria guidelines

Fund allocation criteria

The fund can be used to support any resident living in Elmbridge, whether working or on benefits. They must be in a specific crisis or time of financial hardship/difficulty.

Example:

“During a difficult situation in which an individual or household has incurred an unexpected financial hardship which will have a direct negative and immediate impact on the household’s or individual’s physical and emotional wellbeing”.

Examples of individuals or a family you can help:

A family staying in a hotel or unfurnished temporary accommodation and cannot access cooking facilities due to homelessness or when feeling domestic abuse.
When benefits, usually received on a specific date, have not been paid on that expected date, resulting in hardship.
A family or individual has maximised all the other sources but still need essential items such as white goods or beds for themselves or their children.

How much can be allocated to the recipients?

The grant awards can be up to £400 depending on the need.

Any third-part platform can be used to disburse the fund:

Physical or e-gift cards;
Charis’s platform;
or direct payment to a supplier via an invoice.

Please note that gift cards are often purchased with the purpose of offsetting the cash that would have been used to purchase food for the individual or family. This way that same cash can be used towards other expenses, such as last-minute transport costs or towards the purchase of essential clothing.

Suggestions below:

Between £100 to £400 per family depending on the size and the crisis.
Between £50 to £200 per individual depending on the size and the crisis.

The decision maker can use their own discretion according to the need presented to them.

What can the fund help with?

Help to buy food or clothing.
Help to contribute towards some utility bills arrears including gas, electricity, or water, provided the recipient has received advice from a debt advice service.
Help to buy essential household goods e.g., fridge, freezer, microwave, washing machine, cooker, or other essential furniture such as beds and bedding, provided they have first applied to Surrey Crisis Fund and their own housing association funding scheme.
Help with transport costs associated with essential travel such as hospital appointments, court hearings etc.
Help to pay for bankruptcy costs if they have been advised that this is the best course of action by professional services.
Other essential items.

Please see below our charity support directory for a range of other organisations offering further support.