Lincolnshire crisis service to continue after £900k funding pledge

Lincolnshire County Council has pledged over £900,000 in order to continue proving a short-term crisis service for another year.

The Lincolnshire Community Assistance Scheme (LCAS) funds food, clothes, essential household items and heating or lighting costs for people in short-term crisis

It will continue until at least April 2016 after helping 6,000 people in short term crisis in the last year.

The responsibility for managing LCAS was transferred from the Department of Work and Pensions to Lincolnshire County Council in 2012.

LCAS is provided through a grant aid agreement between Lincolnshire County Council and third sector organisations including Learning Communities and Lincolnshire Credit Union.

The council has pledged to continue the service for another year, with £918,000 available within the 2015/16 budget to support it.

Applicants wishing to access the support must:

• be over 16
• have been resident in Lincolnshire for 3 months prior to making an application
• have exhausted all other forms of assistance, eg family/friends, benefits, work and pensions agencies and regulated financial services providers, including credit unions
• be receiving welfare benefits (work and unemployment, housing and disability related): or be living in a low income household

Councillor Marc Jones, executive member for finance, says: “We know that the Lincolnshire Community Assistance Scheme is much-valued.

“The relatively small cost to purchase individual goods or services can make a big difference when it comes to helping people regain their independence.

“But more than that, the scheme provides support to make sure people don’t find themselves in crisis again.

“For example it has helped 350 people to gain employment, education or training and 300 people have been supported to find housing or resolve debt.

“Since 2012, we have been able to respond to the needs of people here in Lincolnshire more effectively than when the fund was managed by the DWP. We’ve been able to provide an important service and dramatically cut down the admin costs.

“That means that we are able to continue providing the scheme, despite getting less money from government to run it over the next year.”

To access LCAS, people can call 01522 782248.