Household Support Fund Round 5 - Closes 30 September 2024

In the last budget announcement it was shared that there would be a fifth round of the Household Support Fund (HSF). Government have confirmed to Kent County Council (KCC) their share of the funding. KCC have also now confirmed that districts will receive an allocation of KCC’s HSF funding from Government.

What will we do with our funding between now and 30 September 2024?

All Types of Energy and Water Support - This part of the scheme is now closed.

Professionals working with financially vulnerable residents can refer their residents to us for help and support, where residents are struggling to pay their energy (including all fuel), water or broadband bills. For more information, or to make a referral email welfare@ashford.gov.uk.

Food - People's Pantry

Food Bank: Repton Connect Community Shop
Address: Repton Connect Community Centre, Repton Avenue, Ashford, TN23 3RX.

Their Community Shop is located behind the community centre building, and is open Mondays 1pm-2pm, and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10am-11am.

Starting at a donation of £1.50 for every £5 worth of items, you’ll be able to get a maximum of £20 worth of shopping for just £6 that consists of food, toiletries and cleaning products. Currently cash only.

A Community Fridge will be available near reception for fruit and vegetables and some frozen items to combat food waste. Available after 10am Monday to Sunday. Please take only what you know you will use, then use the magnetic pen to leave your postcode and number of people in the household on the fridge.

They are also available to help with up to three emergency parcels per household per year. Onsite lockers are available for out of hours collections. Please email peoplespantry@reptonct.uk or phone 01233 80 80 23 9am-5pm Monday to Friday to arrange parcels.

Food Bank: Appledore Mobile Shop run by Repton Community Trust
Address: Appledore Pavilion, Appledore Recreation Ground, The Street, Appledore, Ashford TN26 2AE.

The Mobile Shop visits The Pavilion fortnightly on a Wednesday 10.30am to 11.30am throughout summer. Starting at a donation of £1.50 for every £5 worth of items, you’ll be able to get a maximum of £20 worth of shopping for just £6 that consists of food, toiletries and cleaning products. Currently cash only.

Food Bank: Tenterden Social Supermarket run by Repton Community Trust and The Mildred Trust
Address: Highbury Hall, Highbury Lane, Tenterden TN30 6LE.

The Social Supermarket opens fortnightly on a Tuesday 1.30pm to 2.30pm throughout summer. Starting at a donation of £1.50 for every £5 worth of items, you’ll be able to get a maximum of £20 worth of shopping for just £6 that consists of food, toiletries and cleaning products. Currently cash only.

To contact any of the above, please use the following details:
Telephone: 01233 808023
Visit the Repton Connect Community Centre website.
Email the Repton Community Trust food team.

White Goods and Essential Items - This part of the scheme is now closed.

Professionals working with financially vulnerable residents, can refer their residents to us for help & support, to buy or replace, essential white goods or furniture. We may be able to support residents to have access to new or refurbished white goods, for example cookers, fridges and washing machines. We can also help source and deliver second hand furniture essentials. For more information, or to make a referral email welfare@ashford.gov.uk.

Working with Schools

As a local authority, and as part of the funding requirements set out by the Government, we aim to target households most in need. To ensure we met this requirement, we used data to identify a number of primary schools in the most deprived areas of the Borough. Each school has been offered a small grant to work with families who are struggling with clothing for school, items such as shoes, coats and in some instances support with food or white goods. We have worked closely with the Family Liaison Officers in each of the schools identified as part of this project.

Pneuma Church

Ashford Borough Council have allocated a proportion of the Household Support Fund to Pneuma Church, who are a locally based voluntary sector organisation in Ashford. The funding will be used to enable additional support to their existing assistance to vulnerable and low income families in the borough, including support with food, white goods and general household support. For more details about their work and support in Ashford please visit the Pneuma Church website.

Frequently Asked Questions

+ What will happen if my bank account is overdrawn? Does this mean I can’t access the money?

The First Right of Appropriation means that when you pay money into your account, you have the right to tell the bank how you want that money to be used. Therefore you must inform the bank (as soon as you find out your application was successful) how you want the money to be used at the time of payment.

+ When will the funding schemes close?

The Household Support Fund has been allocated to the authority via Kent County Council from Central Government. How the funding is utilised is at our discretion but in line with the guidance set out by Central Government, with funding to be committed and spent prior to 30 September 2024. Our schemes, as administered by us locally, will run to the timeframes indicated, but are subject to change depending on the demand and whether the funding is committed and spent ahead of 30 September 2024.