Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund can provide help to low-income households experiencing financial hardship.

Funding has been agreed to 31 March 2025 and is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Support

Help to feed your family

Children and young people eligable for free school meals can get £40 voucher to help with food costs over the Christmas Holiday:

Everyone who is eligible for a voucher, or payment will receive them automatically, there is no need to apply.

The Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) has been expanded to allow families who are on a low income but don't claim free school meals access to events and activities that also provide hot meals over the Christmas Holiday:

The Oldham Foodbank provides nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to families in crisis:

Fuel vouchers

The Household Support Fund also offers fuel vouchers for people in urgent need.

Contact our Warm Homes Team to apply for this help:

Essential items and additional help

We are collaborating with Action Together and other local groups, including community, faith-based, and social enterprises, to offer support to people and families in Oldham who are struggling because of the cost-of-living crisis:

This support can include:

  • Emergency food, toiletries, and baby items
  • Emergency energy or water bills
  • School uniforms, warm clothing, and shoes
  • Household furniture, white goods, and essentials items (e.g. bedding)
  • Emergency non-energy related household bills (e.g. phone credit/data etc)
  • Transport costs (e.g. bus passes to attend medical or public service appointments)

Other support

The funding will also be used to provide:

  • Additional support for the Local Welfare Provision Scheme
  • Housing and Homelessness support
  • Other crisis support vouchers for food and essential supplies 

We can help

This is a tough time for many in Oldham.

The rising cost of basic goods, including food and bills, aren't problems you have to face alone.

Oldham partners are working together to offer residents and families a little more help.

If you need help, contact our Helpline on 0161 770 7007 (9am – 5pm on weekdays).