I would like to request, under the Freedom of Information Act, the following information regarding the Household Support Fund for Wokingham.

1. The total number of applications received for the first round of the Household Support Fund, running from October 2021 to March 2022.
Please could you provide a breakdown showing the number of successful and unsuccessful applications.
Please could you, if possible, provide reasons for why applications were unsuccessful.
The Council does not hold this information. The application process was carried out by the Hardship Alliance, which includes Wokingham Citizens Advice; Wokingham Age Uk; First Days (Wokingham); and Wokingham United Charities. They provided details to the Council of approved applications only.

2. The total number of applications received for the second round of the Household Support Fund, running from April 2022 to September 2022.
Please could you provide a breakdown showing the number of successful and unsuccessful applications.
Please could you, if possible, provide reasons for why applications were unsuccessful.
The Council does not hold all of this information. The application process was carried out by the Hardship Alliance, which includes Wokingham Citizens Advice; Wokingham Age Uk; First Days (Wokingham); and Wokingham United Charities. They provided details to the Council of approved applications only.

However, Wokingham Citizens Advice has produced figures for the applications they have received, as follows:

Applications: 1,332
Successful: 1,025
Unsuccessful: 307

Of the 307 unsuccessful:
Provided no evidence: 165
Duplicate: 88 (i.e., applied to more than 1 organisation at the same time)
Not eligible: 42
Already received one: 12

3. The Grant Usage of the first round of the Household Support Fund.
Please could you provide data for
a) The number and £ value of total awards provided
b) The number and £ value of total awards split by household composition
c) The number and £ value of total awards split by category, such as Energy and water, Food, Essentials linked to energy and water, Wider essentials, Housing costs, and any other categories
d) any other available data regarding the Household Support Fund
See attached file.

4. The Grant Usage of the second round of the Household Support Fund.
Please could you provide data for
a) The number and £ value of total awards provided
b) The number and £ value of total awards split by household composition
c) The number and £ value of total awards split by category, such as Energy and water, Food, Essentials linked to energy and water, Wider essentials, Housing costs, and any other categories
d) any other available data regarding the Household Support Fund
See attached file.

5. The average, highest and lowest amount provided during the first round of the Household Support Fund.
Average: 204
Highest: 700
Lowest: 60

In addition, those eligible to receive Free School Meals during the holidays would have received £15 per week per child.

6. The average, highest and lowest amount provided during the second round of the Household Support Fund.
Average: 178
Highest: 540
Lowest: 88

In addition, those eligible to receive Free School Meals during the May Half-Term holiday would have received £15 per week per child.