SOMERSET Council has formed a three-year partnership with Citizens Advice Somerset to deliver support using the government’s Crisis and Resilience Fund.

The council has received £22.661-million from the government to provide vital assistance to residents facing financial hardship and cost-of-living pressures in the county.

The fund is being co-produced and delivered by a range of partner organisations across Somerset via the Crisis & Resilience Fund Alliance, designed to offer targeted help to people facing sudden financial difficulties.

Citizens Advice Somerset has been appointed as the CRF Alliance Lead to help it deliver support to Somerset communities using the funding which is to be distributed over the next three years via the community sector and direct payments.

The support is provided in three ways, through crisis payments for immediate, accessible financial support for families and individuals facing financial shocks or hardship, delivered through a cash-first approach to ensure dignity and choice.

As resilience services offering wraparound support to prevent recurring crises, including debt advice and budgeting guidance including income maximisation and benefits advice, employment and skills pathways and a focus on building financial stability and reducing dependency on emergency support.

Thirdly, through community coordination by working in partnership to ensure everyone in Somerset has access to the right support at the right time, to build resilient communities.

As Alliance Lead, Citizens Advice Somerset will work with Somerset Council and other partners such as Age UK Somerset, SASP, Somerset Community Foundation and Thrive, to deliver targeted support, strengthen community resilience, provide crisis intervention, and ensure access to wellbeing and financial assistance for vulnerable residents.

Executive director for children, families and education at Somerset Council, Claire Winter, said: “Our local VCFSE partners are in an excellent position to identify the needs of our most vulnerable residents early, and the work they do is well suited to giving these individuals the support they need.

“This is why we’re really pleased to be working with Citizens Advice Somerset and other local partners to provide a wide variety of support for the people who need it, ensuring that everyone in Somerset has access to the right support at the right time.”

CEO of Citizens Advice Somerset, Angela Kerr, said: “Citizens Advice Somerset is thrilled to have been confirmed as the Alliance Lead for the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) across Somerset.

“We're looking forward to building on our existing work with VCFSE partners and Somerset Council, to make sure help and support is easily available at a local level.

“Combining crisis payments with preventative and wraparound support will make a real difference.”

Families of children receiving free school meals who are struggling with food costs during the Easter school break, can access Citizens Advice Somerset’s Easter Holiday Family Support service.

Eligible households will receive supermarket vouchers funded by the CRF, upon completion of an application and submission of relevant evidence.

For further details or to apply for crisis payments, visit Citizens Advice Somerset’s at: citizensadvicesomerset.org.uk/crisis-resilience-fund