The Big Lottery Fund today announced a £30m fund to help make sure that people living in crisis, or at risk of crisis, are able to access support.

Community organisations can apply for grants of between £300,000 and £500,000 to provide emergency support such as food parcels or shelter and then work with people to address the underlying issues.

Nat Sloane, chair of BIG England, said: “With this new funding, groups will be able to use their local knowledge to support those that need it most, helping people not only out of a crisis situation, but by addressing the underlying causes of their situation empowering them to improve their lives and their futures.”

To be eligible for funding projects should have experience of providing hardship services.

The deadline to apply is 26 August and BIG will invite organisations to make second stage applications by 11 November. Applicants will find out if they are successful in March 2016.