Page contents
- Overview
- Route 1 Consortium Grants
- Route 2 Crisis and Resilience Fund Small Grants
- Frequently Asked Questions
Overview
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) funded by UK Government offers, funding to voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations in Surrey to deliver financial resilience services and community coordination. There are two opportunities for organisations to get involved in delivering these services.
Route 1: Consortium Grants will open for applications on 13 July 2026. Final deadline for consortium bids 13 August 2026.
Route 2: Crisis and Resilience Fund Small Grants will open late August 2026.
We strongly encourage VCSEs to work together and submit joint consortium bids as per Route 1. CRF Community Co-ordination is a key area outlined by UK Government within CRF guidelines and as a result there will be more funding available via Route 1 than Route 2.
Further detailed information is provided in the Invitation to Apply document to get a copy please email crf@surreycc.gov.uk.
Route 1: Consortium Grants
Organisations must form consortiums under a designated Lead Provider to deliver coordinated services across priority populations and geographies that have been identified as the greatest areas of deprivation within the Surrey.
Consortium funding is designed to:
- Bring together organisations under a Lead Provider
- Combine prevention expertise, local knowledge and lived experience
- Deliver coordinated support in areas of highest deprivation as determined by pre-defined insights and data. This data is based on a combination of key neighbourhoods as identified in the Surrey Health and Wellbeing Strategy, high deprivation and areas in Surrey where there is a high demand for Surrey Crisis Payments.
Successful consortiums will demonstrate:
- Strong understanding of local need and inequality
- Innovative approaches to preventing financial hardship
- Effective governance and delivery capability
- Proven track record in managing funding and partnerships
Outcomes and impact:
Consortium proposals must focus on preventing poverty and building long-term financial resilience in communities.
Expected outcomes include:
- Reduced material deprivation
- Less reliance on emergency food support
- Increased access to advice services
- Improved financial stability (income maximisation and reduced debt)
- Greater community coordination
- Reduced demand for crisis payments
Services you can deliver
Funding can support a wide range of resilience services, including:
- Food support (foodbanks, community larders)
- Debt and financial advice
- Budgeting and life skills
- Welfare and benefits advice
- Housing and homelessness prevention
- Energy and utility support
- Employment and skills programmes
- Digital inclusion
- Community outreach and advocacy services
Targeting geographic areas of highest need
Consortiums must target geographic areas of highest need in Surrey as identified by the combination of the following data and insights:
- Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) within Key Neighbourhoods as identified in the Surrey Health and Wellbeing Strategy
- Where a high demand for Surrey Crisis Payment applications has been identified.
Applications must:
- Focus on specified geographic areas (LSOAs/Key Neighbourhoods)
- Be structured separately for East and West Surrey as defined by Local Government Re-organisation. East Surrey covers, Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge. West Surrey covers, Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Woking and Waverley.
Eligibility criteria
To apply for consortium funding:
- Applications must be submitted by a consortium of organisations
- One organisation must act as Lead Provider
- Lead Providers must:
- Be a VCFSE organisation in Surrey*
- Have the capacity to manage funding and delivery
- Take responsibility for reporting and risk management
*National organisations may apply if they demonstrate strong local delivery in Surrey. Statutory partners cannot be funded through CRF but should be engaged.
Funding and delivery information
- Grants can be awarded for up to 2 years, with potential extension to April 2029
- Funding must demonstrate value for money
- Administration costs are capped:
- 10% for lead provide
- 5% for partners
- Payments will be made quarterly based on performance and reporting.
Application timeline
Key dates for consortium funding:
- Invitation to Apply document available on request: 18 June 2026
- Applications open: 13 July 2026
- Deadline for applications: 13 August 2026
- Interviews: September 2026
- Decisions announced: Late September 2026
- Delivery begins: October to November 2026
Further detailed information is provided within the Invitation to Apply document. Applications must be submitted via the Surrey County Council’s online grant system, a link will be provided in the Invitation to Apply document. To obtain a copy please email crf@surreycc.gov.uk.
Route 2 – Crisis and Resilience Fund Small Grants
Smaller grants are available for organisations supporting priority populations who have greater levels of and/or at higher risk of poverty.
This funding stream supports organisations working with priority populations more likely to be experiencing or are most at risk of financial hardship and:
- Vulnerable demographic groups (for example lone parents)
- Those with protected characteristics as relevant under the Equality Act, 2010
Who is eligible to apply?
This is designed for small grassroots organisations and specialist providers. Consideration will be given to those organisations who:-
- Clearly define the target group priority populations
- Demonstrate unmet need
- Show how the work prevents crisis
- Align with wider local support systems
- Can deliver separately aligned to East and West Surrey as defined by Local Government Re-organisation. East Surrey covers, Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge. West Surrey covers, Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Woking and Waverley
How to apply
Opens: Late August 2026 more details to follow.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for Route 1 funding? Route 1 is for consortia of voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations. A consortium must include at least two organisations, but there is no maximum number.
Can small organisations apply? Yes. Consortia of all sizes are encouraged to apply. The lead organisation must have the legal and financial capacity to manage public funding.
Can organisations be involved in more than one consortium? Yes. Organisations can participate in multiple consortium applications provided they have the capacity to deliver across all commitments.
Can District and Borough Councils or the National Health Service (NHS) be involved? Yes, they can be consortium partners, but they cannot be the lead organisation or receive CRF funding directly.
Can foodbanks be included in a consortium? Yes. Foodbanks can be consortium partners, particularly where they help residents access wider support. However, funding should not be used primarily for food provision and proposals must demonstrate how residents will be linked into longer-term resilience services.
How can organisations find consortium partners? Organisations interested in joining a consortium can contact crf@surreycc.gov.uk to be connected with others seeking partners.
Can we only work in the identified priority neighbourhoods? No. The priority neighbourhoods are intended as a guide to areas of greatest need. Applications can include other areas where there is clear evidence and justification for support.
Can we support people outside our target area? Yes. Residents outside the identified priority areas can be supported where appropriate, although funding is primarily intended for priority populations.
Will one consortium cover all of East or West Surrey? The expectation is that consortia will focus on local areas or clusters of neighbourhoods rather than covering the entire East or West of Surrey.
What is the ‘No Wrong Front Door’ approach? Residents should be able to access support through any participating organisation. They should then be connected to any additional services they need through shared referral pathways, rather than having to navigate services themselves.
Will there be a shared referral system? Yes. Surrey County Council will provide referral infrastructure and funded organisations will be expected to participate in a shared referral process.
What can funding be used for? Funding should support residents facing financial hardship and help build longer-term resilience. A consortium can include a range of resilience services, but applicants are not expected to deliver every service listed in the guidance.
Can we include food parcels, fuel vouchers or other emergency support? Limited short-term crisis support may be included where it forms part of a wider approach that engages residents in longer-term support. It should not be the main focus of the proposal.
Can we include administration costs? Yes. The lead organisation may include administration costs, up to 10%, while consortium partners may include up to 5% for their share of the funding. SCC will consider reasonable and proportionate management and coordination costs. Frontline delivery staff are not considered administration costs. Activities that contribute to increased community coordination can be included within your delivery proposal rather than treated as administration.
Should we include referral system or lived experience engagement costs? No. These two specific elements will be funded separately and provided by Surrey County Council. However, applicants can include staff time spent on referrals and should also include any other Community Coordination activities as described in the guidance from UK Government Department of Work and Pensions.
Can organisations above the Subsidy Control Minimal Financial Assistance MFA threshold apply? Yes. Additional paperwork may be required if an application is successful.
Can Route 1 funding be used for crisis payments? No. Crisis payments are managed separately by Surrey County Council's Crisis Payments Team and should not be included in applications.
What is the difference between Route 1 and Route 2? Route 1 funds geographically focused consortia that deliver coordinated resilience services in areas of need. Route 2 provides smaller grants for priority communities of identity and areas not covered by Route 1, or where specialist support is needed.
Can an organisation apply to both Route 1 and Route 2? Yes, provided there is no duplication of activity between the two applications.
How will consortia work with the Crisis Payments Team? Consortium partners will be expected to both make and receive referrals. Organisations can support residents to apply for crisis payments but cannot apply on their behalf.
Will applications be assessed on the number of services delivered or people reached? No. Greater emphasis will be placed on the quality of support, the outcomes achieved and the impact on residents rather than the volume of activity.
Can we explain how our proposal complements existing services? Yes. The application form includes opportunities to explain how your proposal builds on existing provision and strengthens local support pathways.