Crisis and Resilience Fund - Professionals Expression of Interest

To provide additional support to potential applicants we will be running Q&A sessions:

• 2pm, Thursday 9th April, 2026
• 10am, Friday 10th April, 2026
• 1pm, Monday 13th April, 2026
• 1pm, Monday 11th May, 2026
• 9am, Tuesday 12th May, 2026
• 2pm, Wednesday 13th May, 2026

You do not need to register- you can join the session via Q&A Teams link:

• Q&A Teams link
• Meeting ID: 366 265 832 332 71
• Passcode: EJ7LB2LH

Question: 
The timeframe is really short. Since the EOI is quite big and involves partnership working, mapping assets, and avoiding duplication? Are there going to be multiple tranches, and what are the timeframes for those?  

Answer: 
UPDATED ANSWER: The deadline will be adjusted to 1st June 2026 to accommodate bank holiday following feedback.

Any CRF EOI received can be resubmitted up to 1st June 2026.

Received EOI’s will be reviewed for award after 1st June 2026.

Expressions of Interest for ‘Access to Crisis Support’ will be reviewed as received to support delivery of direct access to crisis payments to households without delay.

Question: 
For community shops we already run, do we have to include the costings in the EOI?  

Answer: 
No. Existing sustainable projects: pocket to plate, and community shops, City Homemakers partnership delivery are being looked at separately.

We are contacting current distributers of Households Support Fund.

Question: 
What is the funding available? Do you have unit costs or typical project costs in mind, given frequent tranches and many organisations? 
 

Answer: 
The city received £5m for this year, but this includes all allocations inclusive of Housing Payment.

Government has indicated a possible 3-year funding commitment (£17.4m estimated).

No unit cost guidance because organisations vary, some partners will wish to only deliver crisis payments, some deliver full Financial Wellbeing work or sustainability projects.

EOIs are for 26/26 discussions will follow submission to support fair and equitable distribution of funding and reach across communities.

Question: 
Are you looking for proposals for one year or three years?  

Answer: 
One year at the moment with opportunities to scale up over 3 years.

Future years depend on results; what works may be extended into years 2 and 3 and made sustainable.

Question: 
How will referrals between organisations work, especially when some only give crisis funding and others deliver the wider support? Is the Council coordinating? How will data sharing work?

Answer: 
Household Support Fund partnerships have been in place for 5 years, and learning will continue.

All organisations funded will be connected and promoted.

Aim: no duplication, smoother referrals.

A dashboard is being developed so providers can see which organisations clients have been supported by.

Longterm goal: a shared CRM system and integrated delivery.  

Question: 
Will there be central work on debt advice under CRF?  

Answer: 
Under Boost, a Citizens Advice debt advisor will be in place from 1 April 2026

Capacity is limited.

Organisations are encouraged to propose their own debt, financial wellbeing advice and guidance related activity in their EOIs, if that is what they wish to deliver.

Question: 
Is there potential for partnership with the Credit Union?  

Answer: 
Yes, any organisation can partner.

Question: 
There’s no word count; is there an indicative length you expect for the EOI?

Answer: 
No word count because of joint applications.

This is not a tender, we want a clear proposal, detail activity following guidance.

Detail will be drawn out from the follow up conversation where there is need for clarity and to enable discussion around activity and connectivity.

Question: 
Will you meet with every organisation that submits an EOI? Or could you decline without a conversation?

Answer: 
Intention is to meet everyone who has submitted a proposal, unless a proposal is clearly not feasible (e.g., unrealistic large bids with no infrastructure).

Aim is to support and grow grassroots organisations and bring together skills opportunities and resources

Requests outside funding parameters may be declined.  

UPDATED All organisations who have submitted bid over £50k will be prioritised for meeting.

Question: 
Is there a minimum number of clients expected to show value for money relative to the amount of funding requested?  

Answer: 
Yes, this will be part of EOI review and discussion.

Expressions should demonstrate impact, access routes, and reach.

Example: seeing 20 people wouldn’t justify a £20,000 allocation.

Outcomes would be relative to the scale of delivery proposed.

Question: 
Is there guidance on cost per client?  

Answer: 
No blanket guidance, because activity varies significantly.

Example: complex debt support = approx. 3 clients/day; crisis support = many more.

Assessment of proposal and cost will be weighted based on activity type; and all part of the discussions.  

We would be doing due diligence and benchmarking of roles against cost submitted.

Question:
Are their guidelines for crisis support payment amounts?  

Answer: 
Yes, current amounts are consistent with what is on the Cost of Living (Household Support Fund) website.

These will be uplifted due to increasing costs for residents. 

The allocation amount for partners is to distribute is around £10,000, this is initially in place to enable wider reach and more organisations to be able to access the opportunity.

Question:
Can funding be used to continue existing activities where current funding is ending?

Answer:
Yes. You can submit an EOI for activities you already delivered but are no longer funded  and is aligned to the requirements,   and  as there is no duplication or double funding.

Question:
For Priority Area 2, should we cost each subsection separately or put one combined figure?

Answer:
If applying for all activities under that priority, you can put one single total cost and explain it in the narrative and in the clear cost breakdown.

Question:
If working in partnership, do you want the budget split between organisations?

Answer:
Yes. A clear split is required to ensure all partners agree and for due‑diligence purposes.

Question:
Do you have an additional budget specifically for crisis payments?

Answer:
No, so we are reviewing all requests to ensure equitable allocation and access across the city- the allocation from Central government is one pot.

Question:
Should the budget breakdown cover one year or all three years?

Answer:
Budgeting should cover this financial year only. Multi‑year planning will follow after EOI reviews and clarity on national context.

Question:
What is the overall funding allocation?

Answer:
Wolverhampton has been allocated approximately £5.8 million in total. Please note that there is allocation reserved for housing payments (previous DHP).

Question:
Are you looking for fund benefits advice?

Answer:
We are open- EOI’s may include benefits and debt advice, and related proposals are welcome.

Question:
Have you received additional funding related to rural/oil‑heated households?

Answer:
No.

Question:
When does delivery need to start? Will payments be in advance or arrears?

Answer:
Wolverhampton is expected to begin from 1st April 2026.

Dependent of activity there is scope for 1 month mobilisation. 

Funding arrangements for ‘Access to Crisis Support’ will be separate.

Question:
If we miss the first EOI window, have we missed our chance?

Answer:
No. We will review the ‘Access to Crisis Support’ element of EOI’s received, as received. Deadline for all EOI’s is 1st June 2026

Question:
Are thematic bids acceptable?

Answer:
Yes, thematic bids are acceptable, but you must still be able to demonstrate how you will reach residents across Wolverhampton.

Question:
How will outcomes be measured?

Answer:
A consistent reporting and monitoring process will be required, including dashboards and MS Forms. 

The focus is on tracking client journeys from crisis to resilience.

Question:
How long before the dashboard is available?

Answer:
Development is underway; we hope to have this available aligned to EOI deadline.

Question:
Can you apply for all priorities or just one?

Answer:
You may apply for all, one priority, or a single activity. Please do remember that the focus is on Financial resilience and where there is link to other areas; employment, housing etc.. that is not the activities that align to the priorities.

Access to Crisis Support’ will be reviewed separately.

Question:
Do you need bank statements with EOI?

Answer:
Not required at EOI stage; but is helpful to provide as will be needed later if successful.

We would also be taking time to understand other income stream and alignment of activity for applicants who are not only doing crisis payments element.

Question:
Do you have funding allocation expectations?

Answer:
Updated EOI’s will be assessed on merit; amounts over £50 k will be prioritised for further exploration and evidence.

We are taking EOI route to enable discussion and support smaller local organisations to access opportunities and support connectivity.

We want to support the connectivity and take on the feedback from codesign activities on how to support our resident and work alongside partners to readdress the impact of the cost of living.

Question:
Do you have a definition of crisis?

Answer:
Crisis and financial shock have outlined by DWP,  but we recognise that there is no one size fits all – for example a person who may have income but is in a challenging situation such as fleeing domestic violence, unexpected job loss, or bill increases (unaccepted) may require  access to crisis payments.

Question:
What is the wraparound requirement?

Answer:
DWP guidance highlights that crisis support should be provided with access to wraparound support – resilience services. 

We are working on templates aligned to consistent deliver models and outcome monitoring following co-design feedback.

Question:
Are people NRPF status eligible?

Answer:
Some NRPF cases can receive support; criteria will be provided.

Question:
What if we cannot provide the 48-hour crisis response?

Answer:
This is a partnership approach and model; all services will interlink and deliver should connect across city and neighbourhoods. 

We hope to have a range of Partners who may cover each other, based on operating models; and by taking this transparent approach.

Question:
How will you achieve all ward coverage?

Answer:
Coverage cannot be confirmed until EOIs are received; this is why EOI deadline has been extended.

Access to crisis support payment EOI’s will be reviewed as received and we are maintain fair and equitable approach to enable wide access and distribution. 

All delivery EOI’s will be reviewed after June 1st, 2026, to ensure fair, equitable and needs led allocation; and reach aligned to DWP requirements

Question:
Whether the EOI is being assessed on a per-question basis or as a whole proposal within each priority area?

Answer:
The EOI’s will be reviewed as submitted; either on each activity or priority area dependant on how the EOI has been received. Expression of Interest can be applied for either as one activity or a whole priority area.

Question:
How scoring and weighting have been applied across the different sections?

Answer:
This is a expression of interest to meet the priorities and activities outlined and to meet the requirement of the Crisis and Resilience Fund (link on the guidance Document) we would be looking at EOI’s to see how they can support activity.

As requested, we would then meet with partners to discuss their proposal.

*Please note as highlighted on guidance the Crisis payment element is also on EOI, we would be looking at awarding the ‘Access to Crisis Support’ activity to help those who need it most without delay; however, allocations are only around £10,000 at present- to promote reach and participation.

Question:
The rationale for allocating funding to individual components of a proposal rather than the full delivery model?

Answer:
Due to the feedback and the desire to ensure residents are not left without support whilst EOI’s are reviewed. We have made contact with those who have made a EOI with Access to Crisis activity to ask if they would be interested in this element whilst the wider EOI is reviewed.

Question:
How this approach aligns with the stated aim of delivering integrated, wraparound support.

Answer:
There is already a portfolio of support available, we would want crisis element providers to connect with services, support and opportunities in partnership; now and post EOI award.

Question:
Would Counselling be funded?

Answer:
As we are not looking at the EOI until June I would not be able to confirm if it would be funded.