In September this year Leicester City Council offered financial support to families via a Household Support Fund. They are now offering this again.

Previously referrals had to be made by a professional i.e. the school. However currently you can make a referral yourself for support with:

• Food costs
• Gas and electricity costs
• Water costs

The school does still have the facility to make applications to the Household Support Fund for families who need further support. This would only be for:

• White goods (via referral only)
• Exceptional cases of genuine emergency, to support housing costs where existing housing support/discretionary schemes do not meet this need

Applications can be submitted by families; however, this will be live based on one week on and two weeks off (subject to demand).  The dates below show when the form will be live:

• 14 November - 21 November 2022
• 5 December - 12 December 2022
• 3 January - 9 January 2023
• 23 January - 30 January 2023
• 13 February - 5 March 2023

To qualify for applications you must meet the following criteria:

• a resident within Leicester; and
• aged sixteen years or more; and
• on a low income; and
• have personal savings of less than £1,500, and
• be experiencing financial hardship;

You will only be entitled to receive a non-food grant if you meet the following criteria:

• have not been eligible to receive a November Cost of Living Payment, and

• have not received support from the previous phase of the Household Support Fund (April-September 2022), or
• are considered financially vulnerable, or at risk.

Full details and the application form can be found at leicester.gov.uk/householdsupportfund  

If you would like to make an application for white goods or housing costs due to emergency, please contact the school. Mr Lang our family support worker will be processing applications. He can be contacted via the main school reception or emailing reception@overdale-inf.leicester.sch.uk FAO Mr Lang.