As April 2026 begins, local councils across the UK have already set their budgets and secured funding to support financially vulnerable communities. In this episode of the Debt Talk podcast with your host, Ripon Ray, we explore an issue that matters deeply to many people: Council Crisis & Resilience Funds.

I’m joined by three expert guests who help us unpack and navigate this vital topic:

Laura Stoker, Head of the Tackling Poverty Team at Lambeth Council, explains how previous discretionary payments introduced after welfare reform created uncertainty for local authorities and the people they were trying to support. She highlights that the current funding approach provides greater stability in helping low-income households. Laura also shares how councils identify vulnerable residents and the different ways they can support them — from flexible payment methods to strong partnerships with local organisations that understand community needs.

Gareth Evans, Founder and Director of CashPerks, specialises in cash-first approaches and financial inclusion solutions. He explains how this award-winning payment method is helping local councils, third-sector organisations, and housing associations reach the people who need support most. Crucially, the system ensures that even residents without bank accounts can access funds quickly and safely. Gareth emphasises that there are already four million people in the UK without bank accounts, and that this approach makes it easier for communities to access support while maintaining their dignity.

Baljit Badesha, CEO of Nucleus Legal Advice, works in partnership with local Citizens Advice services to support communities facing financial hardship. He discusses how different councils respond to the challenge of delivering payments to vulnerable residents and reflects on the limits of local authorities in influencing national policy. However, he stresses that a three-year funding stream is a significant improvement over the previous year-to-year arrangements that councils relied on to support vulnerable communities.

Our Debt Talk guests also share their Top Tips for listeners who may be struggling or looking for ways to access support. And in our next Debt Talk podcast episode, we’ll be exploring another powerful topic: Wars and Our Personal Finances.