The Household Support Fund is funded by the UK Government. It has been renewed for another year, running from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Who the Household Support Fund is for
The Household Support Fund is for anyone who is struggling with the cost of living and paying for essentials. Through the fund, you may be able to get help with food, toiletries, fuel support and other essential items, as well as advice on finance and benefits.
Services we have used the funding for
For the 2025/26 financial year, we received £3.22m from the Government towards the Household Support Fund in Peterborough. Our main two objectives of the fund are:
- To provide crisis support to vulnerable households who are in the most need with the cost of essentials
- To provide preventative support to stop vulnerable households from falling into, or further into, crisis
Councils that receive this funding from the Government have flexibility on how it is spent. In Peterborough, we have used the money for:
- Holiday Voucher Scheme - providing supermarket vouchers during the school holidays for pupils eligible for free school meals
- Cost of Living Support Hubs - providing food, toiletries and other essential items, advice services, plus a safe space for social interaction
- Housing Needs Service - for homelessness prevention and engagement, particularly focusing on supporting residents to either maintain existing accommodation or to find alternative accommodation
How you can get support
Cost of Living Support Hubs
We have set up Cost of Living Support Hubs across Peterborough with our community partners. They are for any resident in our city struggling with the cost of living.
Residents can receive food, fuel support, toiletries and other essential items. Some hubs also offer an advice service for matters such as money management, debt, benefits and other welfare topics.
Please note each hub has a different offer of support, which you must explore by contacting them directly.
Holiday Voucher Scheme
If you have children, your family could be eligible for supermarket vouchers during the school holidays.
Visit our Holiday Voucher Scheme page for more information.
Household Support Fund Privacy Notice
This notice covers how we will collect and use personal data in respect of the Household Support Fund. For more information, visit our Corporate Privacy Notice page.
Further support with the cost of living
Visit our Cost of Living Support page to find information on:
- Other energy schemes outside of the Household Support Fund
- The Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme
- Benefits you may be entitled to
- Which organisations can help you with financial and debt advice
- Food banks
- Help with online connectivity