Crisis and Resilience Fund - Financial Resilience and Community Coordination Service

The Council has received funding from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to support households experiencing financial crisis and to invest in longer-term preventative activities that strengthen financial resilience and reduce future reliance on crisis support. In Leicestershire, the wider Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) includes Crisis Payments administered by Leicestershire County Council and Housing Payments administered by the District and Borough Councils.

This procurement relates specifically to the Financial Resilience Service and Community Coordination function that support residents to move beyond immediate crisis and improve long-term financial stability. The service is focused on improving financial resilience, increasing access to advice and support, reducing debt and repeat crisis demand, and enhancing collaboration across organisations to provide a more joined-up and person-centred system of support.

This service will be divided into 8 lots. The area combines suburban communities close to Leicester, including Braunstone Town and Glen Parva, with larger villages and rural settlements.

The borough includes the large urban centre of Loughborough alongside a wide range of towns, villages and rural communities. Charnwood contains some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Leicestershire, alongside areas of relative affluence, creating varied levels of financial need and demand across the area.

Located adjacent to Leicester City, it comprises the towns of Oadby, Wigston and South Wigston and has a diverse population Lot 8 is Community Coordination. This lot requires the delivery of a countywide Community Coordination function across Leicestershire, supporting a population of approximately 712,000 residents.

The service will work strategically across all seven district and borough areas to strengthen collaboration between Financial Resilience Service providers, local authorities, VCSE organisations and wider stakeholders, improving referral pathways, supporting partnership development, increasing the visibility of support services, identifying gaps and opportunities within the system, and promoting a coordinated, accessible and effective countywide financial resilience support network. This contract is for 2 years and 5 months and shall take effect from 02 November 2026 - 31 March 2029.

The total allocated budget for this contract is £3,411,573. Full breakdown of each lot's value is given within the Doc 01 - Invitation to Tender (ITT). Standstill has been observed for all 8 lots, which commences on 08/10/2026 and will end on 20/10/2026