Swindon Borough Council in Wiltshire is launching a new Crisis and Resilience Fund on 1 April 2026 to provide a stable support system for low-income households. This new three-year programme replaces the current Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments, which will end on 31 March 2026.
The new fund, backed by the Department for Work and Pensions, is designed to help residents facing financial shocks with essentials such as food and energy bills. It combines emergency crisis relief with new projects that aim to help residents build long-term financial independence through 31 March 2029.
Residents applying for help must now follow stricter rules, including providing photo identification and two months of bank statements for every adult in the house. The council introduced these requirements to combat a nationwide rise in fraudulent applications and stated that they cannot process applications without this evidence.
Local groups such as the Swindon Food Collective, which supports over 10,000 people including 3,000 children every year, may see changes in how this help is delivered. Most people currently get help through referrals from Citizens Advice Swindon, but residents are encouraged to check how evidence requirements may change under the new fund.
The government is providing about £1 billion per year for these local funds across the country. However, a survey by the Local Government Association found that only 2% of councils believe this amount is enough to meet local needs.
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