Crisis and Resilience Fund

What is Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF)?

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is a new multi‑year national programme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions to help people in Gloucestershire who are facing financial hardship, while also strengthening long‑term community resilience. Running from Wednesday 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, it replaces the previous Household Support Fund.

The fund provides support for residents experiencing sudden financial crises, such as difficulty affording food, fuel, essential household items, or emergency living costs, and backing local organisations that offer advice, wellbeing support, and services that help people become more financially secure.

Alongside immediate help, the CRF focuses on prevention and resilience‑building, supporting individuals and communities to better manage financial shocks through services like debt advice, income maximisation and other early‑intervention support, moving toward more sustained, person‑centred support that reduces the need for crisis interventions over time.

Definition of a crisis under the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF)

A crisis refers to a sudden event or situation that causes immediate hardship or jeopardises an individual’s or family’s ability to maintain basic safety, well-being, or financial stability. CRF guidance highlights that crisis support is intended for people facing unexpected shocks that create urgent need.

Examples of crises under the CRF

The CRF provides illustrative examples of situations that qualify as a crisis, including:

• Floods or fires causing loss of home or essential belongings
• Medical emergencies leading to immediate financial or practical hardship
• Leaving an abusive relationship, requiring urgent safety and resettlement support
• Breakages of essential household items (e.g., fridge, cooker, bed) where replacement is critical for safe living
• Redundancy or sudden loss of income, creating urgent financial shock
• Illness affecting someone’s ability to meet day to day essential living expenses
• Unexpected bills, such as funeral costs
• Change or disruption in benefit entitlement such as suspension or waiting for entitlement outcome which creates immediate shortfall

In all cases, a crisis is understood as an acute disruption that exceeds a person’s or household’s ability to cope without immediate external support.