Deadline: 31-Dec-2026
The Oil Crisis & Resilience Fund provides emergency financial support to individuals and families in Cambridgeshire who rely on heating oil and are struggling with rising oil costs. The fund helps eligible households experiencing financial hardship, exceptional financial pressure, or financial shock.
Grants of up to £400 are available for eligible households in Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough. Applicants must rely on heating oil for home heating or hot water, have 150 litres or less of oil remaining in their tank, and be receiving or eligible for means-tested benefits.
Fund Overview
The Oil Crisis & Resilience Fund supports residents in Cambridgeshire who depend on heating oil and are facing urgent financial difficulty.
The fund provides one-off emergency grants to help individuals and families meet heating oil costs.
It is intended for households that are at risk of running out of oil and cannot afford rising fuel expenses.
Main Objective
The main objective of the fund is to provide urgent financial relief to households affected by high heating oil costs.
The fund aims to:
- Support households facing exceptional financial pressure
- Help residents experiencing financial shock
- Provide emergency grants for heating oil
- Prevent households from running out of heating oil
- Support people who rely on oil for heating and hot water
- Assist low-income households receiving or eligible for means-tested benefits
- Reduce hardship caused by rising household energy costs
Key Focus Areas
The fund focuses on emergency household energy support.
Key focus areas include:
- Heating oil costs
- Emergency financial assistance
- Fuel poverty
- Household hardship
- Energy cost pressure
- Cambridgeshire residents
- Low-income households
- Means-tested benefits
- Crisis support
- Heating and hot water access
- Rural household energy needs
Funding Available
Eligible households may receive a grant of up to £400.
Each household can receive only one grant from the fund.
The fund operates on a rolling basis and may close once available funding has been exhausted.
Geographic Coverage
The fund supports eligible individuals and families living in Cambridgeshire.
The fund does not cover Peterborough.
Applicants must live in an eligible Cambridgeshire area and provide proof of address.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible recipients must meet all core eligibility conditions.
Applicants must:
- Live in Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough
- Rely on heating oil to heat their home and/or water
- Be experiencing exceptional financial pressure or financial shock
- Have 150 litres or less of oil remaining in their tank
- Be receiving or eligible for means-tested benefits
- Provide required supporting documents
Means-Tested Benefit Requirement
Applicants must be receiving or eligible for means-tested benefits.
Examples include:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
This requirement helps ensure that support reaches households facing financial hardship.
Oil Tank Requirement
Applicants must have 150 litres or less of heating oil remaining in their tank.
This condition shows that the household has an urgent need for heating oil support.
Applicants must provide confirmation of remaining oil levels as part of the application.
What the Fund Supports
The fund supports emergency heating oil costs for eligible households.
Grant support may help residents:
- Purchase heating oil
- Maintain home heating
- Maintain hot water access
- Respond to sudden financial pressure
- Reduce immediate energy hardship
Grant payments may be made directly to residents or through referring organisations.
Who Can Submit an Application?
Applications may be submitted in two ways.
Direct Applications
Residents can apply directly if they meet the eligibility requirements and can provide supporting documents.
Referrals by Organisations
Applications may also be submitted by referring organisations.
Referring organisations may include:
- Voluntary sector organisations
- Local authority teams
- Community support organisations
- Other relevant organisations that have assessed the household’s circumstances
Referring organisations must confirm that the applicant needs urgent assistance.
Required Supporting Documents
Applicants must provide evidence to support their application.
Required documents include:
- Proof of benefits
- Proof of address
- Evidence that the property relies on heating oil
- Confirmation of remaining oil levels in the tank
Incomplete documentation may delay processing or result in rejection.
Who is Not Eligible?
The fund does not support all households.
Ineligible applicants include:
- Residents outside Cambridgeshire
- Residents of Peterborough
- Households that do not rely on heating oil
- Households with more than 150 litres of oil remaining
- Households not receiving or eligible for means-tested benefits
- Individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds
- Households that have already received one grant from the fund
No Recourse to Public Funds Restriction
Individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds are not eligible for support through this fund.
Applicants should confirm their eligibility status before applying.
Why This Fund Matters
Heating oil costs can create serious hardship for households that rely on oil for heating and hot water.
Many homes that use heating oil may face higher upfront costs because oil must often be purchased in bulk.
The Oil Crisis & Resilience Fund matters because it provides urgent support to households at risk of running out of heating oil during a period of rising costs.
The fund helps protect basic wellbeing, warmth, and household resilience for people facing financial pressure.
How to Apply or Prepare an Application
Applicants should prepare the required information and submit the application directly or through a referring organisation.
Step 1: Confirm Location Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that they live in Cambridgeshire and not in Peterborough.
Proof of address will be required.
Step 2: Confirm Heating Oil Dependence
Applicants must show that their property relies on heating oil for home heating and/or hot water.
Evidence may include bills, supplier information, or other proof that heating oil is used at the property.
Step 3: Check Remaining Oil Level
Applicants must confirm that they have 150 litres or less of oil remaining in their tank.
This evidence is required to show urgent need.
Step 4: Confirm Benefit Eligibility
Applicants should prepare proof that they receive or are eligible for means-tested benefits.
Examples include Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Income-based ESA.
Step 5: Gather Supporting Documents
Applicants should collect all required documents before submitting.
This helps avoid delays or rejection.
Step 6: Submit Directly or Through a Referrer
Residents may apply directly.
Alternatively, a voluntary sector organisation or local authority may submit a referral after assessing the applicant’s circumstances.
Step 7: Await Assessment
Applications will be assessed based on eligibility, urgency, financial hardship, and available funding.
The fund may close when funds are exhausted.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Applying from outside Cambridgeshire
- Applying from Peterborough
- Submitting without proof of address
- Failing to prove heating oil dependence
- Not confirming the remaining oil level
- Applying with more than 150 litres of oil remaining
- Not providing proof of benefits
- Submitting incomplete documents
- Applying more than once for the same household
- Applying despite having No Recourse to Public Funds
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Clearly show urgent need for heating oil support
- Include all required documents
- Confirm the household’s Cambridgeshire address
- Provide evidence of means-tested benefits
- Confirm the property relies on heating oil
- Show that 150 litres or less remains in the tank
- Explain the financial hardship or financial shock
- Use a referring organisation if additional support is needed
FAQ
1. What is the Oil Crisis & Resilience Fund?
The Oil Crisis & Resilience Fund provides emergency grants to help eligible Cambridgeshire households pay for heating oil during financial hardship.
2. How much funding is available per household?
Eligible households may receive a grant of up to £400.
3. Who can apply?
Individuals and families living in Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough, may apply if they rely on heating oil, are facing financial hardship, and meet the benefit and oil-level requirements.
4. What is the oil level requirement?
Applicants must have 150 litres or less of oil remaining in their tank.
5. Can a referring organisation apply on behalf of a resident?
Yes. Applications may be submitted by voluntary sector organisations or local authorities that have assessed the applicant’s circumstances and confirmed urgent need.
6. What documents are required?
Applicants must provide proof of benefits, proof of address, evidence that the property relies on heating oil, and confirmation of remaining oil levels.
7. Can a household receive more than one grant?
No. Each household can receive only one grant from the fund.
Conclusion
The Oil Crisis & Resilience Fund provides urgent support for Cambridgeshire households struggling with rising heating oil costs.
With grants of up to £400, the fund helps eligible residents who rely on heating oil, face financial hardship, and have 150 litres or less remaining in their tank.
Applicants should submit complete documentation, confirm eligibility, and apply as early as possible because the fund operates on a rolling basis and may close when funds are exhausted.
For more information, visit Cambridgeshire Community Foundation.