A council document suggests how £6m of new funding could be spent in the city
The funding will be aimed that those most in need(Image: PA)
A new Hull City Council document explains how around £6 million will be spent to support those facing financial hardship in the city. The funding comes from the Government‘s new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).
This will see Hull City Council receive £5,901,704 for the period April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. It replaces the Household Support Fund (HSF) from which the council received £5,354,902 in 2025/26.
A new council report details a plan for how the money could be spent in the city. Before being confirmed, the plans will be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee on March 20. The report will then go before the council’s cabinet on March 23 where a decision on the plans will be made.
Despite the council being able to decide how the money is spent, it must act within guidance set by the Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The guidance, for example, sets out the need for the funding to target residents facing financial hardship. The council report explains that “data and intelligence” will be used to identify vulnerable households in the city, ensuring the funding reaches those most in need.
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here.
The council report suggests splitting the funding between eight proposals. Under the plans, almost half of the money (£2.9m) would be used to fund £15 food vouchers for free school meal recipients during holiday periods.
Just over £1m would be spent on a new outcomes-focused grants system. Additional staff will be needed to help deliver this programme, the report says.
A further £1m would be used to fund Crisis Payments to residents who are experiencing financial shock and are unable to meet short-term needs. This £1m would also fund Community Support Grants which seek to help residents live independently, for example, by providing assistance with white goods and furniture.
Other suggested uses for funding include £70,000 to support low-income families purchase school uniforms and £250,000 for tenancy support. Administration costs to help in the reviewing and assessment of applications for payments and grants are also included in the proposals.
On the plans, the leader of Hull City Council, Cllr Mike Ross, said: “One of our top priorities as a council is to deliver support to residents across Hull who are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“Over the years we’ve supported children with free school meals and free school uniforms and, when the Government cut the Winter Fuel Allowance, the Lib Dems made sure Hull’s most vulnerable pensioners were protected. In the coming weeks, the council will be agreeing a new plan to support people in Hull with the cost of living crisis using the Crisis Resilience Fund.”
To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more, visit the Public Notices Portal .