Community Hub

1 About us

West Sussex County Council established the Community Hub in March 2020 during the COVID 19 pandemic to ensure all West Sussex residents had access to food and essential supplies.

The Community Hub gives residents personalised advice, information and guidance. We help with a range of community support issues, point people to local services and encourage them to manage current challenges and prevent future ones.

Open 365 days a year, our team of officers are also able to help with queries and applications linked to the schemes we currently support including:

• the Household Support Fund
• the Homes for Ukraine Scheme 
• Smoke Free West Sussex

2 Homes for Ukraine

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) supports eligible families, couples and individuals leaving Ukraine in response to the current situation.

The Community Hub helps Ukrainian guests and their UK hosts by:

• carrying out safeguarding checks
• sharing local area information
• offering advice and guidance about the Homes for Ukraine Scheme

3 Household Support Fund

From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, the UK government is giving funding to county councils and unitary authorities in England. The funding helps vulnerable households with essential costs through the Household Support Fund.

The main purpose of the fund is to support households in crisis who need help with essentials. It also aims to stop vulnerable households from getting to a crisis point, or having a crisis become worse.

The Community Hub runs the part of the scheme that involves applications. Residents in West Sussex can apply to the hub for help.

You can find more information, including how to apply, on the Household Support Fund page.

4 Cost of living

The Community Hub offers support and advice to anyone who needs help with the cost of living.

5 Useful links

Government links

• Cost of living hub (GOV.UK)
• Get help with the cost of living from your local council (GOV.UK)

Food banks

• Trussell: Ending hunger together

Wider support

• UKHarvest: West Sussex signposting

Citizens Advice

• Citizens Advice - free and reliable advice in West Sussex

Carers support

• Carers Support West Sussex

District and borough links

Adur and Worthing

• Cost of living support (Adur and Worthing Councils)
• Getting support (Adur and Worthing Councils)

Arun

• Cost of living resources available - Arun District Council
• Arun Wellbeing - provided by West Sussex County Council and Arun District Council

Chichester

• Help with finances (Chichester District Council)
• Supporting you (Chichester District Council)

Crawley

• Help with money worries (Crawley Borough Council)
• Crawley Borough Council support - West Sussex Energy

Horsham

• Cost of living support (Horsham District Council)
• Horsham District Wellbeing - provided by West Sussex County Council and Horsham District Council

Mid Sussex

• Cost of living support (Mid Sussex District Council)
• Mid Sussex Support - Welfare Together

6 Privacy notice

You can find details about how we use and manage your personal data on our privacy notice.

7 Contact details

For general enquiries, including information, advice and support, complete our online form:

If you want to submit an application for financial support, visit our Household Support Fund page.