Connect for Communities

Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Education (DfE), the connect4communities programme coordinates a range of initiatives which aim to ensure that low-income households, families with children, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people, do not go without necessities such as food and fuel.

Hampshire County Council has been awarded over £7 million from the DWP’s Household Support Fund, to use by 30 September 2024 and we intend to work with community and voluntary sector partners to provide immediate direct support or support that has a longer-term sustainable impact, particularly focussing on food and utility costs, to vulnerable households throughout the period.

The DfE has provided funding to local authorities to coordinate a Holiday Activities and Food programme that provides healthy food and enriching activities to disadvantaged children during the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays.

Isle of Wight residents - Details of how the Household Support Fund and Holiday Activity and Food Programme can be accessed on the Island can be found on the Isle of Wight Council's web pages: