Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now
The help comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) - a giant £742million fund available to councils in England.
1
Councils have until March 31, 2026, to allocate their share of this fund to residents in need.
Support is usually offered to those on a low income, benefits or classed as vulnerable.
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is offering thousands of hard-up households a range of help based on their needs.
Some can get £200 towards the cost of gas and electricity while others can get help paying for food.
Meanwhile, some can get help covering the cost of white goods such as washing machines and fridges, and single beds for children.
Blackburn with Darwen Council wouldn't say how much the average price of a white good someone will receive might be.
However, Which? says the average price of a fridge freezer is £800, so you could save yourself a fair amount by applying.
Households requesting help with white goods must be referred to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council by a professional.
The council said this referrer might be someone from adult services, charity Age UK or children's services.
You'll need to be of a limited income to apply for help through the fund. The criteria you must meet is:
How to cut energy costs and get help with FOUR key household bills
Single Adult in Work: Your household income must be below £26,057 (before tax and National Insurance)
Two or More Adults in Work: Your household income must be below £38,870 (before tax and National Insurance)
Your household savings must be under £2,000
If you're a pensioner, you can have savings up to £16,000
It's worth noting, if you've received a white goods item in the last 12 months from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, you cannot apply for help with white goods this round.
More details about the HSF scheme and how to apply are on Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's website - www.blackburn.gov.uk/cost-living-support/household-support-fund.
Councillor Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The Household Support Fund is there to support those people who are really struggling with the cost of living.
"In addition to funding for a variety of things, residents can also access financial advice to help them with reducing their household outgoings and improving their income.
"Anyone living in Blackburn with Darwen can apply and although there is some eligibility criteria to meet, we're keen to remind people that the Household Support Fund is open to applications from people who are in work, as well as those who are not."
Household Support Fund explained
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
The last round ran until the end of March 2025, but was extended.
The most current round is running between April 2025 and March 2026.
If you live outside the Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council area, it's worth checking if you qualify for help via the HSF where you live.
You might be able to get free grants to cover energy bills or supermarket vouchers to spend on food.
Find out what council area you fall under by visiting www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
How else to get free white goods
It's not just through the Household Support Fund you can get help with the costs of white goods.
Here are some other avenues to get help.
Council schemes
Some councils run schemes to cover the cost of white goods.
For example, Norfolk County Council has a Client Hardship Service (CHS) offering second-hand and new appliances to hard-up households.
To get help you'll need to be aged 16 or older, live in Norfolk and be claiming a means-tested benefit like Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Meanwhile, Manchester City Council provides those who are resettling or moving out of temporary accommodation with basic furniture and white goods.
Use the government's council locator tool, which we've shown above, to find out if your local authority offers any white good-based support and eligibility criteria.
Many local councils have local assistance funds providing essential furniture and white goods too.
For example, Waltham Forest Council, in London, offers struggling households vouchers to pay for essentials like bedding, household goods and furniture.
You'll need to prove you don't have savings which could be used to cover the cost of these goods and must be aged 16 or over.
North Yorkshire Council also offers households facing financial hardship help.
Under the scheme, households can replace broken appliances free of charge, as well as access help buying food, clothing, beds and bedding.
You'll need to provide proof of why you need extra support.
Grants for those in specific jobs
You might be able to get help covering the cost of white goods if you've worked for a specific company.
One of the biggest schemes out there is the BT Benevolent Fund, which is for anyone who works at BT or has worked there before, including pensioners and dependants.
You can apply for the BT Benevolent Fund on the scheme's website.
Another is the Insurance Charities, which can be accessed by anyone who has worked in the insurance sector for at least five years.
If a parent or primary carer has worked within the fashion and textile industry for at least one year within the past nine years, they can apply for grants to buy white goods through the Fashion and Textile Children's Trust.
This includes working in a supermarket or shop with a clothes range such as Mothercare. The average amount paid is £515.
Lastly, the Veteran's Charity supports those who have worked in the armed forces facing hardship.
The charity can provide small and large white goods to help those battling hardship and distress.
Charity grants
Buttle UK is a charity for children, young people, their families, and carers offering grants worth up to £2,000.
Support packages include money for essential items, including beds and cookers, and help for children's emotional, social, and educational needs.
Meanwhile, Family Fund supports families raising disabled or seriously ill children.
They provide grants for several things, including washing machines, bedding, and furniture.
The grants are paid through specific suppliers and can be used for the total cost of new items or a discount on the cost.
The exact amount given varies in each individual case.
For those in England and Scotland, kitchen goods are supplied by the website AO.
For those in Wales, grants are supplied by Argos, and for those in Northern Ireland, the supplier is Vision Sales.
Charity Glasspool also provides grants to help people buy white goods, bedding, and items for children and babies.
There are no specific eligibility requests for this charity, but it says it expects anyone applying to have already made an application for local welfare schemes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
Huge closing down sale for prestigious jewellers shutting after 165 years
IT's the end of an era for one of Scarborough's most prestigious stores, which is set to shut after 165 years. Bright & Sons jewellers on St Nicholas Street has been a Scarborough fixture for generations. 3 Families have passed through its Victorian doors to mark engagements, weddings, anniversaries and christenings. But after struggling with tough trading conditions and refusing to compromise on quality and service, the jeweller will close its doors for good at the end of October. A huge closing-down sale has now begun, with stock including new and antique jewellery, watches, rings, necklaces and keepsakes available at reduced prices. Shoppers can also find selected pieces online, with the sale offering a last chance to pick up a bargain while saying farewell to a store that has been part of Scarborough life for more than a century. Bright & Sons has a proud history stretching back to 1859, when founders Frederick and Herbert Bright moved from Sheffield to open the business. The link with Sheffield remained strong when the store joined forces with jewellers H. L. Brown in 1957. 'It is very much a sad goodbye,' said Kerri Amos, at parent company H. L. Brown in Sheffield. 'We know the community in Scarborough will feel it and all of us here in Sheffield are feeling it too.' Over the years, Bright & Sons has been known for its personal service and high-quality pieces, with many of its staff staying for decades. Store Closures Sweep Across the US – How Will It Impact Your Shopping Experience One of its most famous commissions came in 1897, when the jewellers created a ceremonial chain for the Mayoress of Scarborough to mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Director of H. L. Brown, Richard Pool, based at Barbara Cattle jewellers in York, said customers would be given a warm welcome there after the Scarborough shop closes. Many loyal shoppers already make the trip to York, keeping the historic link alive. The closure follows a string of well-known names disappearing from the high street. In Grimsby, G Hewitt & Son jewellers shut earlier this year after 154 years, launching a huge farewell sale before finally closing its doors. Budget giant Poundland has also been shutting shops at pace, with 68 stores set to go by mid-October. Several Birmingham branches have already gone, including Kings Heath, Sheldon and Erdington, with bargain hunters offered up to 75 per cent off stock before shutters came down. Wilko collapsed last year, forcing hundreds of stores to close, while chains like M&Co and Paperchase also vanished from town centres across the country. Boots has announced plans to shut 300 shops, Iceland has been closing branches, and even fashion favourite Topshop disappeared after being bought out by ASOS. House of Fraser has shrunk its empire year after year, Debenhams vanished from the high street in 2021, and Marks & Spencer has confirmed more closures as it reshapes its business. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." 3
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca confirms Nicolas Jackson is free to leave and also wants Christopher Nkunku out the door
CHELSEA manager Enzo Maresca would rather risk a striker crisis than keep unhappy pair Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku. Wantaway forwards Jackson and Nkunku will be left out of the Blues squad for Friday's Prem trip to West Ham, despite BOTH being fit. 4 4 4 Arsenal were forced back into the transfer market when Kai Havertz suffered a knee injury that left Viktor Gyokeres as their only available centre-forward. When asked if it might be better to keep Jackson as back-up to new signings Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, Maresca said: 'It's better for Nico if what he desires is going to happen. 'He is available, but he's not going to be part of the squad because we have two players in that position — and we know that something can happen before the transfer window closes. 'The player is open to leave. If he finds a good solution, he's going to leave. 'Christo is with us like Nico, but it's the same answer as Nico. We'll see if they're going to be here. 'It's always better if they find a solution, as they are going to be more happy — and the club the same. "But you need someone that is going to buy you. It's not so easy.' Newcastle, Aston Villa, Napoli and others have all shown interest in Jackson — without indicating they will meet Chelsea's £60m-plus valuation. Chelsea's transfer deals IN Joao Pedro - from Brighton - £60m Jamie Gittens - from Dortmund - £52m Jorell Hato - from Ajax - £37m Liam Delap - from Ipswich - £30m Estevao - from Palmeiras - £29m Dario Essugo - from Sporting Lisbon - £18.5m Kendry Paez - from Independiente - £17.5m Mamadou Sarr - from Strasbourg - £12.5m TOTAL - £256.5m OUT Noni Madueke - to Arsenal - £52m Joao Felix - to Al-Nassr - £44m Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - to Everton - £28m Djordje Petrovic - to Bournemouth - £25m Lesley Ugochukwu - to Burnley - £25m Armando Broja - to Burnley - £20m Bashir Humphreys - to Burnley - £15m Mathis Amougou - to Strasbourg - £12.5m Kepa Arrizabalaga - to Arsenal - £5m Marcus Bettinelli - to Man City - £5m TOTAL - £203.5m The Blues are not prepared to send the strikers out on loan, the option Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig would prefer for Nkunku. If both end up leaving, Maresca will be happy with the options Pedro and Delap offer. SunSport discusses the key takeaways from Enzo Maresca' pre-West Ham press conference including Jackson update He said: 'Pedro probably gives us more than Liam in small spaces. "Liam probably gives us a little bit more in terms of physicality, in terms of runs in behind. 'So it depends a little bit on the game plan.' 4 But neither Pedro nor sub Delap came close to breaking the deadlock in last Sunday's 0-0 home draw with Crystal Palace. So while the futures of Nkunku and Jackson remain uncertain, there is no doubt Maresca will already be under pressure if the Blues fail to beat the Hammers without them. But the Italian is boosted by the return of defender Tosin Adarabioyo ahead of Friday's clash.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Record number of jobless young women pushes unemployment numbers for under-25s to almost a million
A RECORD surge in jobless young women has pushed the number of under-25s out of work or education to almost a million, new figures show. Some 948,000 youngsters were classed as not in employment, education or training between April and June - up from 923,000 in the first three months of the year. 1 That means 12.8 per cent of all 16–24-year-olds, or one in eight, are now out of work or study, according to the Office for National Statistics. It also marks the sixth quarter in a row that the total has stayed above 900,000, underlining how stubborn the problem has become. The rise was driven almost entirely by women, with female Neets climbing by 25,000 to 450,000 – the highest figure since 2016. Meanwhile, the number of young men dipped slightly to 497,000. It comes as Britain's jobs market has slowed to a crawl, with higher taxes blamed for choking off vacancies and pushing the overall unemployment rate up to 4.7 per cent. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride yesterday tore into Labour, saying: 'It should come as no surprise that the numbers of young people not in work, education or training is rising under Labour. "The Jobs Tax is hitting young workers the hardest, and Labour have utterly failed to reform welfare and get young people off benefits and into work. "Young people need hope for the future - but at the moment all they see is fewer opportunities and an economy going in the wrong direction.' The Government insisted it was taking action, announcing a £45million extension of its Youth Guarantee 'trailblazer' scheme on the same day the ONS figures were released. Eight pilot projects across England are testing new ways of identifying those most at risk of dropping out of education or work and matching them with local training or job placements. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the extra funding would ensure 'no young person will be left behind". Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson added that the Youth Guarantee was part of wider reforms 'to spread opportunity into all corners of the country' and give young people clearer routes into skilled work.
