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.

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.

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.

Special Projects

If you are a charity or organisation and are looking for some extra support to deliver an essential project that will help improve your local community, we may be able to help. The Wellbeing Fund has already supported a number of charities and organisation with things like: contributions towards community building upgrades/refurbishments, equipment, and other project delivery costs.

You can tell us about your project and complete a funding application HERE.