Crisis and Resilience Fund
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) was introduced 1st April 2026 and replaces the Household Support Fund (HSF). This government funding will support low-income households who are in crisis: funding rent, energy, food, essential household items, and other instances of crisis.
People who have successfully been awarded funding previously under the Household Support Fund (HSF) are not automatically eligible for the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).
While applications will be welcomed from low-income households, funding will also be used to enable longer-term financial resilience by investing in community support services.
There are four key components to the CRF:
- crisis payments
- housing payments
- resilience services
- community coordination
If you are a low-income household experiencing financial crisis and/or require support with housing payments, please get in touch with us at crf@westberks.gov.uk or 01635 519 194.
Further support with heating oil
On 16th March 2026, the government confirmed that West Berkshire Council had been allocated additional funding through the Crisis and Resilience Fund to provide targeted support for households that rely on oil heating.
If you are one of these households and are on low-income, please contact our team at crf@westberks.gov.uk or 01635 519 194. We will provide you with a short survey to complete, to find out whether you are eligible.
We are bridging the gap between the (average) price of oil before the steep price increase and the price of oil when you purchase it. Oil payments are paid in arrears, after we have received the oil delivery invoice.
If you have members of your household that are vulnerable or disabled and you have to heat your home for longer periods or at higher temperatures, please get in touch with us at crf@westberks.gov.uk or 01635 519 194 to see if we can offer you any support.
