Background;

The Crisis & Resilience Fund (CRF) is a 3-year government funding scheme, administered by local authorities, which seeks to reduce demand for crisis support through preventative early interventions that strengthen resilience for households. The programme aims to strengthen local support, enabling residents in crisis to be connected into the support they need, alongside building community led resilience to support households earlier. 

The Grant Programme;

As part of Warrington’s CRF Programme, Warrington Voluntary Action is pleased to host the CRF Community Microgrants, made available by Warrington Borough Council, to support food security and increase financial resilience at a community level.

The programme will provide grants enabling voluntary and community organisations to support;

• Community food aid - Increasing access to dignified, affordable food offers that help households stretch budgets and connect with wraparound support.
• Community co-ordination - Supporting grassroots, non-food initiatives that strengthen financial resilience, reduce repeat crises, and build local support networks

What can you apply for?

Grants are available between £500 - £5,000.

All projects must be:

• Person-centred - Support must reflect individual preferences, needs, and values, delivered in a respectful and inclusive manner.
• Needs-based - Interventions must address the underlying causes of financial hardship, not just immediate presenting issues. 
• Connected to other services - While groups may not directly deliver all aspects of this support, they should ensure strong referral pathways and connections are in place.
• Prevention and resilience-focused - Activities must prioritise early intervention and aim to build long-term financial resilience.
• Holistic - Delivery must consider the full range of needs, including financial, social, health, and housing circumstances.
• Trauma-informed - Services must recognise the impact of trauma and embed principles of safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural awareness.
• No Wrong Door - Groups must operate within a coordinated system, including warm referrals and appropriate information sharing, to ensure seamless access to support.

All projects must contribute to at least one of the following outcomes;

• Reduced material deprivation
• Reduced need for emergency food provision
• Increased access to advice and support services
• Increased financial resilience (e.g. savings, budgeting skills)
• Reduction in priority debt
• Improved income maximisation
• Reduced demand for Crisis and Housing Payments
• Reduced social isolation
• Increased community connectedness
• Improved wellbeing and confidence

Provision must be accessible to all Warrington people, including:

• People aged 16-25
• Working-age adults experiencing financial instability
• Older adults on fixed or limited incomes
• Flexibility and accessibility for diverse needs must be demonstrated, including physical, sensory, cognitive, and communication barriers

Projects that target or demonstrate reach into the following groups will be prioritised:

• Low-income households
• Care leavers
• Veterans (including transition to civilian life)
• Disabled people and those with long term conditions
• Individuals with mental health or neurodiverse needs
• Single-parent households
• Carers experiencing financial hardship
• Individuals at risk of homelessness or housing insecurity
• People affected by bereavement, redundancy, or sudden income loss
• Individuals experiencing multiple disadvantage

Project which demonstrate the following considerations as part of their application will be prioritised:

• Deliver services, programmes or projects in trusted, community-based settings
• Provide non-digital access routes (telephone, paper, face-to-face)
• Ensure access to translation and interpretation services, including BSL
• Provide outreach-based and flexible delivery, including home visits where appropriate
• Groups should demonstrate how people with lived experience of poverty or financial hardship have informed service design and delivery
• Groups should actively reduce stigma and barriers to engagement and embed inclusive practice.

Priority will be given to;

• Community owned and operated groups
• Groups operating in underserved or high-need areas
• Groups supporting people experiencing disproportionate hardship
• Groups that support people least likely to access mainstream services
• Innovative, sustainable approaches that move people away from crisis support and towards long-term financial resilience.

For organisations applying for £3,000 - 5,000, All the above criteria apply, plus;

• Delivery across multiple locations
• Strong evidence of unmet need
• Integrated wraparound support
• Clear impact on reducing crisis demand
• Demonstrates partnership working and avoids duplication of existing provision

Eligibility

This fund is open to Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) groups:

• Constituted Community groups
• Registered Charities
• CICs
• Parent Teacher Associations
• Community Associations

The following are not eligible:

• Statutory groups/services
• Foodbanks seeking funding for core or routine provision

Your organisation must:

• Be a not-for-profit entity
• Have a governing document (constitution, articles of association, or equivalent)
• Hold a bank account in the organisation's name with at least two unrelated signatories
• Be physically accessible within Warrington, including face-to-face provision where required
• Demonstrate local knowledge and experience of meeting community needs in Warrington

The following will not be funded:

• Core organisational costs (e.g. ongoing salaries, standard rent and utility arrangements)
• Start-up costs or services demonstrably at risk may be considered where a clear case is made regarding community benefit and sustainability
• Activities focused solely on campaigning
• Retrospective funding
• Groups whose service/activity includes influence clients' religious, political, ethical or personal beliefs

Note:

• Some examples of fundable activities are included within the attachment below.
• Organisations may receive one grant per financial year
• Unsuccessful applicants may reapply within the same financial year
• Previously successful applicants may apply again in subsequent years

Deadlines

There are 3 funding rounds during 2026-27;

Round 1 - Opens Friday 16th October, Closes Friday 20th November

Round 2 - Opens Friday 11th December, Closes Friday 15th January

Round 3 - Opens Friday 5th February, Closes Friday 12th March

Applications can be made by completing the below form and providing the supporting documentation requested.

Any applications with missing documentation cannot be taken to panel, therefore please ensure you have uploaded all information requested. 

If you have any issues, or require the application in a different format, please contact [email protected].

APPLY HERE