Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund

In 2024, the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund responded to rising financial hardship by helping residents access practical support, services and volunteer-led help in ways that were local, immediate and community-based. In a period of deepening cost-of-living pressure, it provided an important entry point into support for people experiencing financial difficulty.

Its value lay in combining direct help with community capacity. By involving volunteers and keeping support accessible, the project strengthened local responses to hardship while helping residents navigate difficult circumstances with more support around them.

Impact:

• 244 people directly supported in 2023/24.
• 41 volunteers engaged, contributing 2,500 hours.