Wellbeing Fund
Our Wellbeing Fund is open to all Platform customers who are experiencing financial hardship and need short-term support.
The Fund can help cover essential food and energy costs, especially if you are waiting for your first benefit payment. You can also apply for help to purchase an essential household item, along with additional and special project support as explained in the framework below.
Please be aware that between the 23rd of December 2024 and the 1st of January 2025, Wellbeing Fund applications will not be processed. The team will start looking at applications again on the 2nd of January 2025.
Please consider contacting your local foodbank or local authority if you need support with food or energy over the Christmas period.
Wishing you a peaceful Christmas.
The Wellbeing Fund Team
Are you eligible?
To be eligible for help from our Wellbeing Fund you must:
- Be in receipt of means tested benefits (such as Universal Credit), on a low income or be able to evidence financial hardship.
- Be able to demonstrate that you are without the necessary funds to meet your immediate need.
- Be able to provide your household income and expenditure details.
- Have considered other support options available to you.
- Be working with, or willing to work with, support services offered through Platform or externally to improve your long-term situation.
- Confirm that you have read and understand the Wellbeing Fund eligibility criteria and framework prior to making an application.
Your application can include any combination of essential food and energy support and household essentials, but is limited to only one of any of the other support types listed under additional support.
Only items requested from the framework, outlined below can be considered as part of your application.
Previous applications will be taken into account as part of the application assessment. Please note, there is a limit to support available through this fund.
Our Wellbeing Fund Framework
Type of support | Number of awards that can be made |
|---|---|
Essentials:
|
One food voucher and energy voucher application per year, per household from the anniversary of the previous award (subject to eligibility). |
Essential household items:
|
|
Additional supportAwards will be made on individual assessment of request and only one award from the following can be made for the lifetime of the fund (subject to eligibility). | One of the following categories for the life of the fund: |
Furniture
| |
Electrical kitchen appliances (only one can be chosen)
|
|
Health and wellbeing
|
|
Digital inclusion
|
|
Employment and training
|
|
Special Projects SupportHelp for local charities and organisations to deliver essential community improving projects | |
You can also find out how our Community Chest Fund may also be able to assist you. |
Special Projects
If you are a charity or organisation and are looking for some extra support to deliver an essential project that will help improve your local community, we may be able to help. The Wellbeing Fund has already supported a number of charities and organisation with things like: contributions towards community building upgrades/refurbishments, equipment, and other project delivery costs.
You can tell us about your project and complete a funding application HERE.
