Nottingham residents to benefit from new £21m crisis and resilience fund

Nottingham City Council has secured £21.2 million in government-backed funding to launch the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), a major initiative designed to support households through financial hardship. Running from April 2026 to March 2029, the programme provides approximately £7 million annually to assist vulnerable residents while shifting the focus toward long-term stability.

This new fund replaces the previous Household Support Fund, moving away from short-term fixes toward a sustainable model. While immediate aid remains available for those in urgent need, a significant portion of the investment will go toward services that prevent financial crises before they occur. The programme is built on four central pillars designed to catch people before they fall into deep debt or housing insecurity.

Core support areas for Nottingham households

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is structured to provide both a safety net and a ladder out of financial difficulty. Residents can access support through these specific channels:

Similar to how Lewisham residents benefit from wellbeing support through local investment, Nottingham’s approach relies heavily on a “no wrong door” policy. A new central website and referral system will ensure that regardless of how a resident first asks for help, they are directed to the correct service without having to repeat their story to multiple departments.

Funding for local charities and community groups

A key feature of the CRF is a dedicated community grants scheme. This allows voluntary organisations, charities, and grassroots groups to apply for funding to deliver support directly within their neighborhoods. By empowering local groups, the council aims to reach residents who might be hesitant to approach local authority services directly.

Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, noted that the network of community organisations plays a vital role in the city’s health. The fund allows these groups to plan ahead with three-year certainty, rather than relying on the month-to-month extensions that characterized previous government hardship schemes. Local groups are encouraged to prepare their applications ahead of the summer rollout.

Key points of the Crisis and Resilience Fund

• Total Investment: £21.2 million over three years (2026–2029).
• Eligibility: Focuses on vulnerable households facing urgent financial pressures or housing risks.
• Prevention First: New investment in services that help residents manage finances and avoid future crises.
• Community Led: Grants available for local charities to provide targeted neighborhood support.
• Access: A streamlined “no wrong door” system via a new central website.

Residents who have previously relied on seasonal aid should note that families must apply for support under the new criteria once the portal opens. The shift to the CRF means that while the fund is larger and more stable, the application processes are being modernized to ensure the money reaches those in the highest tiers of need.

How to access help and apply

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) officially opens for applications on 26 May 2026. Until then, existing emergency support structures remain in place through the Nottingham City Council website.

From late May, the new central support system will go live, offering a single point of entry for crisis payments and resilience advice. Local charities and voluntary groups interested in the community grants scheme will also find application guidance on the council’s portal starting 26 May. The council has confirmed that funding will be distributed in regular rounds to ensure a continuous flow of support through 2029.

Source: Nottingham City Council