Nottingham residents can apply for new £21m hardship fund

By the Munisha editorial desk

Nottingham residents facing urgent financial pressure can now apply for help through the city’s new Crisis and Resilience Fund, a £21.2 million Government-funded programme running until March 2029.

The fund opened on 26 May 2026 and is designed to provide emergency support while also backing longer-term services that help people avoid repeat financial crisis. Community groups, charities and voluntary organisations can also apply for funding to deliver local help across Nottingham neighbourhoods.

Readers looking for a resident-focused breakdown can also see Munisha’s guide to Nottingham’s Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Help now available across Nottingham

The Crisis and Resilience Fund replaces the previous Household Support Fund, but Nottingham City Council says the new scheme is broader because it combines immediate crisis payments with housing support, advice routes and community coordination.

Around £7 million is expected to be delivered each year across the city until March 2029. The support is aimed at residents in financial hardship, including people who need emergency help and those whose situation could worsen without early advice or practical intervention.

Emergency payments will continue to be available for residents in immediate financial crisis, subject to appropriate checks.

Who may be able to get support

The fund is aimed at Nottingham residents who are struggling financially or at risk of falling into crisis. The council’s announcement highlights support for people who need urgent assistance as well as those who may benefit from advice before problems escalate.

Residents may seek help if they are:

• facing an immediate financial emergency;
• struggling to stay in their home;
• unsure whether they are receiving all benefits they may be entitled to;
• in need of referral to advice services, including Advice Nottingham;
• looking for a single route into local support rather than contacting several services separately.

The council has described the new application route as a “no wrong door” approach, meaning residents should be directed to suitable help through one online process rather than being passed between separate organisations.

Crisis payments, housing help and benefit checks

The programme is built around four main areas of support: crisis payments, housing support, resilience services and community coordination.

For residents, the most immediate element is emergency financial assistance for those facing urgent hardship. Housing support is also part of the scheme, with the aim of helping people remain in their homes where possible.

Longer-term resilience services are intended to reduce the chance of future crisis. That includes access to advice and tools that help households understand their income, benefits and support options.

A free benefit checker is available through the fund’s website. It is designed to help residents identify unclaimed benefits and connect them with application routes.

How residents can apply from 26 May

Applications and referrals are being handled through a dedicated Crisis and Resilience Fund website launched alongside the programme.

Through the online route, residents can:

• apply for help and assistance;
• request emergency financial support;
• be referred to advice services;
• use the free benefit checker;
• complete a single form so they can be connected to suitable support more quickly.

The council says checks will still apply for emergency payments. Residents should be prepared to provide details about their circumstances when applying, especially where urgent financial help is requested.

Community groups can bid for local funding

The fund is also open to Nottingham’s voluntary and community sector. Charities, grassroots groups and voluntary organisations can apply for community grants to deliver support in neighbourhoods across the city.

The grant programme is intended to invest directly in local organisations that already work with residents facing hardship. Funding will be distributed through regular application rounds over the next three years.

A new community grants directory has also been launched to bring funding opportunities together in one place, making it easier for organisations to find relevant support and apply.

Three-year funding window runs to March 2029

The Crisis and Resilience Fund will run until March 2029, giving the council and community organisations a longer planning window than short-term emergency schemes.

Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said the fund would allow the city to continue providing emergency help while investing in support that helps people avoid reaching crisis point.

She said local organisations, charities and grassroots groups should apply and “play a leading role” in delivering support across Nottingham.

Applications for community grants are now open, with funding allocated through regular rounds over the next three years.

Source: Nottingham City Council

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Source check Source trail

This article is based on Nottingham City Council’s published details for the Crisis and Resilience Fund opening on 26 May 2026.

Checks

• Confirmed the fund value as £21.2 million and the end date as March 2029.
• Checked that residents and community organisations are both included in the scheme.
• Matched the listed support areas to the council announcement: crisis payments, housing sup...
• Identified Nottingham as the factual geographic scope rather than using the publisher or s...

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My Nottingham News / Nottingham City Council

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Nottingham

Updated

2026-05-26 09:53

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Neghat Khan

#benefit checker#community grants#Crisis and Resilience Fund#housing support#Nottingham City Council#Nottingham hardship support#voluntary sector funding

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