Vulnerable Hampshire households struggling with rising costs can access a range of support thanks to a comprehensive £12.5 million package unveiled by Hampshire County Council.

Funded through the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Household Support Fund (HSF), the initiative will run until March 2026 and is part of the County Council’s wider connect4communities programme, which supports low-income households with necessities like food and fuel. The funding will be used to provide both immediate crisis support, and longer-term preventative measures to households in need, including families with children, unpaid carers, care leavers, people with disabilities, pensioners, and those facing unexpected financial shocks.

Hampshire’s network of community pantries – member-based alternatives to supermarkets that provide cheap essentials and reduce food waste – will receive more than £1 million.

The County Council will also work closely with schools, borough and district councils and voluntary organisations to deliver the support. Additionally, a portion of the funding will be available through an application-based scheme, ensuring residents can come forward to request help.

Councillor Roz Chadd, the County Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Children’s Services, said: “This funding is a vital lifeline for many households across Hampshire. We are committed to ensuring that support reaches those who need it most – whether that’s help with heating bills, food, or essential household items. Our approach combines immediate relief with longer-term solutions to help build resilience and reduce future hardship.”

Key highlights of the support package include:

£5.6 million in direct crisis support through grants to:

• Schools, colleges, and early years settings to support vulnerable families.
• Organisations supporting unpaid and young carers.
• Citizens Advice East Hampshire to provide utility support and eligibility checks, aiding approximately 3,000 households.
• District and borough councils to support residents with exceptional housing costs.
• The Environment Centre to provide energy-related support and essential heating system repairs for over 280 households.

£1.9 million for County Council-led crisis support, including:

• Food vouchers, essential items, and help with bills to support families and households involved with children’s social care services.
• Support with fuel and energy costs for adults who receive social care (but are not living in care homes), and vulnerable adults who don’t currently receive care or who come to adult social care services in crisis.

£1.5 million for preventative support, such as financial advice, digital inclusion services, and community wellbeing initiatives. This includes funding for:

• Local Children’s Partnerships to support HSF delivery, including signposting and referring to direct support and promoting and identifying community-based organisations to the community grants programme.
• Citizens Advice services to offer financial and fuel poverty advice and crisis support.
• Basingstoke Voluntary Action to assist voluntary and community groups across Hampshire with access to grant funding.

£1.8 million in delegated grants to community organisations including:

• Local community groups providing advice about food or fuel poverty.
• Organisations helping vulnerable people across the county with food and fuel support.
• Community groups that help people get essential household items (like white goods or carpets) when they can’t afford replacements.
• Community pantry schemes.

The final remainder of the grant will be retained for administration to ensure effective delivery and oversight of the programme.

The Household Support Fund is part of a national £742 million package announced by Government in March 2025. Hampshire’s allocation of £12.56 million will support residents through collaborative, community-based solutions.

For more information on how to access support, visit: www.hants.gov.uk/connect4communities.