Purpose

The council's Household Support Fund (HSF)
allocation for the period 1st of April 2025 to 31st of March 2026
is £1.705M. This Department for Work and Pensions grant is to
be used to help households in Bath and North East Somerset with
living costs and to provide preventative support.
The grant will fund the continuation of Free School Meal vouchers
for school holiday periods up to the February 2026 half term
holiday, grants to partner organisations to disburse to residents
and to provide preventative support, and small grants to be paid
direct to residents in financial crisis, to assist with the
acquisition of essential items and payment of bills and living
costs.
All funding must be disbursed by the 31st of March 2026

Decision

Approval of £1.705M HSF allocation as
proposed.

Alternative options considered

Officers have carefully considered the DWP HSF
Guidance and have matched the proposed allocations to meet the
underlying principles of the guidance whilst making the best use of
existing resources, infrastructure and partnership working.