CRF - Essential White Goods, Carpets and Beds/Mattresses Scheme

Purpose of the Scheme

The Crisis & Resilience fund “Essential White Goods, Carpets and Beds/Mattresses Scheme” has been created to provide assistance with essential household items where residents are experiencing financial hardship.

This could include support for:

• Essential white goods, such as electric cookers, washing machines, fridges and freezers
• Essential carpets
• Essential beds, mattresses and mattress protectors

National guidance recognises essential furniture and appliances as an appropriate use of Crisis and Resilience Fund funding where this support helps residents maintain safe and suitable living conditions. Examples specifically referenced include beds and mattresses, flooring, washing machines, refrigerators, freezers and cookers.

To apply for this part of the CRF scheme we prefer applicants to already be working with a professional in some capacity.  Examples of a professional would be a Family Liaison Officer in a school, Social Worker or Social Care Professional, Housing Officer, Welfare Intervention Officer, other Ashford Borough Council Officer, Doctor, Nurse or medical professional, someone who works for a charitable organisation, someone who works for Citizens Advice Ashford etc.  The professional will be required to email Crisis.Resilience@ashford.gov.uk to gain access to the application form. If you are not working with a professional in any capacity, please email  Crisis.Resilience@ashford.gov.uk for further assistance.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for support, applicants must:

• Be aged 16 or over
• Be a resident of Ashford permanently living within Ashford Borough Council
• Be a Council Tax/Utilities payer for that property
• Be in receipt of means‑tested benefits or have a total household income of £33,000 or less per year
• Have less than £3,000 in savings (unless on a means tested benefit)

Evidence Requirements

Applicants will be required to provide:

• Proof of financial circumstances, such as:
  • Bank statements from the last 2 months
  • Payslips from the last 2 months
  • Evidence of benefits received

** If you have capital over £10,000 you will not be eligible for any support from any of the Crisis & Resilience Fund schemes (even if you are in receipt of a means tested benefit) **

Award

Where eligibility and evidence requirements are met, eligible residents will be contacted by our partners to supply/deliver the goods.

Data Protection Statement

Ashford Borough Council is the data controller for any personal information collected in this application. Working in partnership with Kent County Council and through the Governments, Crisis and Resilience Fund - Summer Heating Oil Scheme, the council is seeking to support vulnerable households in its borough.

Any collected personal information will be used in order to administrate the scheme, offer any support and monitor the schemes effectiveness. Processing is being conducted relying upon the public interest legal basis. Your data may be processed by Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council so we can provide the required service. 

Your data may also be shared with other departments within the council for the purpose of improving services, keeping records up-to-date and for the protection of the public fund. Your information will be retained for a period of 6yrs following an application. For more information about your data protection rights please see the Council’s data protection pages which can be found at www.ashford.gov.uk or contact the Data Protection Officer at, The Data Protection Officer, Ashford Borough Council, International House, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1HU