Crisis grants launched for struggling Bradford families

Struggling families in Bradford will be able to apply for new "crisis" grants to help them cope with unexpected life events. The money will come from an £800m national fund, with Bradford receiving a £12.7m-a-year share over the next three years. The fund aims to support low-income households facing sudden financial shocks such as losing a job, unexpected bills, illness or changes in family circumstances. Iain MacBeath, Bradford Council's strategic director for health, said it was also an opportunity to bring together various strands of work supporting families who often have "multiple issues to resolve". At a meeting of the local authority's executive on Tuesday, MacBeath said the scheme aimed to move beyond emergency aid by helping families become more financially "resilient", offering advice on managing money, accessing benefits, reducing debt and finding work. Support will be delivered through a "no wrong door" approach, he said, meaning residents can access help online, by phone or in person and be guided to the right service without being passed between agencies. The programme, announced in January nationally, replaces previous schemes such as Discretionary Housing Payments a