Contract(s) for The supply of Goods and Services for CEC Emergency AssistanCE Scheme

Emergency AssistanCE is a scheme introduced by Cheshire East Council following the changes to the Social Fund by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) from April 2013. Following the abolition of Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans, the Council has developed this scheme to provide support for the most vulnerable residents who may be facing immediate shortterm needs in an emergency or as a consequence of a disaster, or to prevent a serious risk to the health and safety of themselves or their family Budgets are limited, and will be subject to annual cabinet reviews.

The scheme is designed to prioritise support to protect the most vulnerable, i.e. those residents of Cheshire East who are in genuine need. Any award under the scheme is intended: · To support vulnerable people facing immediate hardship, following a crisis or disaster To prevent homelessness, in conjunction with support from the Housing Options Team To keep families together and safeguard vulnerable people Alternatively support may be required to assist vulnerable people to return to or remain in the community or to ease exceptional pressure on families. The scheme is non-cash based with support provided by the provision of goods, (primarily re-cycled or reconditioned white goods and furniture) or services (including general welfare advice and signposting) and is available to those in receipt of state benefits (or low paid work in exceptional cases).