Help with essential costs during financial hardship
The Essential Support Fund
The Essential Support Fund helps people in Shropshire who are struggling to afford essential living costs.
The fund can help with:
- heating and energy costs
- urgent bills and arrears
- essential household items
- keeping homes warm and safe
Any support provided does not need to be paid back.
Who the fund is for
The fund is intended for low-income households in Shropshire experiencing immediate financial hardship.
Support is prioritised for people struggling to afford essential living costs or who may be at risk of crisis.
What support is available?
Help with heating costs
Support is available for heating and energy costs, including oil, LPG, gas and electricity.
The fund may also help with:
- heating repairs
- energy-efficient heating appliances
- practical measures to keep homes warm
Help with essential living costs
Support may also be available for:
- urgent utility or water bill arrears
- essential household items
- emergency financial support linked to the cost of living
All applications are assessed individually based on household circumstances and available funding.
How to apply
All requests for support are made through one referral form.
To access the fund, a referral must be submitted by a professional, support service or community organisation working with the household.
Every referral is reviewed individually to make sure people receive the most appropriate support for their situation.
Information to include with referrals
Where possible, referrals should include:
- bills or quotes
- evidence of arrears
- information about financial hardship
Start a referral
Referrals must be submitted by a professional, support service or community organisation.
Start a referralDelivered in partnership
The Essential Support Fund is delivered by Community Resource in partnership with Shropshire Council.
Funding is provided through the UK Government’s Crisis Resilience Fund.