Wellbeing Fund

Our Wellbeing Fund is open to all Platform customers who are experiencing financial hardship and need short-term support.

The Fund can help cover essential food and energy costs, especially if you are waiting for your first benefit payment. You can also apply for help to purchase an essential household item, along with additional and special project support as explained in the framework below.

Customers working together on a Wellbeing Fund Project

Are you eligible?

To be eligible for help from our Wellbeing Fund you must:

  • Be in receipt of means tested benefits (such as Universal Credit), on a low income or be able to evidence financial hardship.
  • Be able to demonstrate that you are without the necessary funds to meet your immediate need.
  • Be able to provide your household income and expenditure details.
  • Have considered other support options available to you.
  • Be working with, or willing to work with, support services offered through Platform or externally to improve your long-term situation.
  • Confirm that you have read and understand the Wellbeing Fund eligibility criteria and framework prior to making an application.

Your application can include any combination of essential food and energy support and household essentials, but is limited to only one of any of the other support types listed under additional support.

Only items requested from the framework, outlined below can be considered as part of your application. 

Previous applications will be taken into account as part of the application assessment.  Please note, there is a limit to support available through this fund.

Budgeting in a home

 

Our Wellbeing Fund Framework

Type of support

Number of awards that can be made

Essentials:

  • Food
  • Energy

 

One food voucher and energy voucher application per year, per household from the anniversary of the previous award (subject to eligibility).

Essential household items:

  • School uniforms
  • Interview clothing
  • Household cleaning products
  • Toiletries
  • Kitchen/utility essentials (non electrical) 



One essential household items voucher application per year, per household from the anniversary of the previous award (subject to eligibility).

 

Additional support

Awards will be made on individual assessment of request and only one award from the following can be made for the lifetime of the fund (subject to eligibility).

One of the following categories for the life of the fund:

Furniture

  • Bed/Mattress
 

Electrical kitchen appliances (only one can be chosen)

  • Washing machine
  • Cooker
  • Fridge freezer
  • Microwave or air fryer

 

 

Health and wellbeing

  • Classes
  • Activities
  • Groups

 

 

Digital inclusion

  • Devices
  • Other digital needs

 

 

Employment and training

  • Training or tuition
  • Interview travel costs
  • New job costs (travel)

 

 

Special Projects Support

Help for local charities and organisations to deliver essential community improving projects

 
  • Promote Community cohesion & empowerment
  • Improve Community safety
  • Improve the local environment & sustainability
  • Tackle domestic abuse and take safeguarding action
  • Help communities stay connected – reducing isolation and loneliness
  • Tackle digital inclusion
  • Promote health & wellbeing

You can also find out how our Community Chest Fund may also be able to assist you.

 

 

Wellbeing Fund Application Form

  • Current Before You Start
  • Disclaimer
  • Your details
  • Awaiting benefit
  • Social Value questions
  • Monthly Income
  • Monthly Expenditure
  • Other monthly income and assets
  • Complete
Before You Start

We’re unable to process your application unless you provide us with the information we need. Please make sure you’re able to provide the following:
 

I confirm that I have read and understand the Wellbeing Form eligibility criteria and framework prior to making this application for support.