Research and analysis

Crisis and Resilience Fund Deliberative Research: technical report

Published 26 February 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crisis-and-resilience-fund-deliberative-research/crisis-and-resilience-fund-deliberative-research-technical-report

February 2026

DWP ad hoc research report no. 119

A report of research carried out by Verian on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Crown copyright 2026.

You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence.

or write to:

Information Policy Team
The National Archives
Kew
London
TW9 4DU

or email psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk

This publication is also available at DWP research.

If you would like to know more about DWP research, email socialresearch@dwp.gov.uk

First published February 2026

ISBN 978-1-78659-940-7

Views expressed in this report are not necessarily those of the Department for Work and Pensions or any other government department.

1. Technical report

This report provides the technical and methodological details of deliberative research commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to inform the development of the new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). This report provides detail on the research methodology, including sampling, recruitment and fieldwork. Copies of the research materials are appended.

1.1. Background and context

The CRF is a new, reformed discretionary financial crisis support scheme for England, launching from 1 April 2026. It builds on the types of support previously offered through the Household Support Fund (HSF), which is due to end in March 2026, and brings together key funding streams - including Discretionary Housing Payments - into a single, streamlined offer. The Fund will be administered by Local Authorities (LAs).

The CRF research was the second phase of a wider piece of work commissioned by DWP called the Parents and Carers Research. The first phase of this research consisted of 40 interviews with parents and carers to understand the experiences of families living in poverty to inform the development of the Child Poverty Strategy. This research was completed in April 2025 and was published alongside the strategy. The CRF research included some participants from the first phase of research, as well as new participants that did not have children or were from different age groups.

1.2. Research aims

The overall objectives for the research were:

  • To explore how the CRF can effectively provide timely and accessible financial crisis support and refer and support people to access and engage with activities that build financial resilience.

  • To explore how CRF can design financial resilience-building activities in a way that genuinely achieves intended outcomes.

There were several questions that guided this research. These fit into 3 categories:

Crisis support

  • What barriers exist to accessing current support?

  • Where would people look if they needed help?

  • What kinds of support do people prefer?

  • Should some form of evidence be required to apply for support?

Financial resilience activities

  • Would people engage with financial resilience activities if it were a condition to receiving crisis support?

  • What activities do people find helpful in building their financial resilience?

  • How do we ensure people buy into resilience building activities and see their value?

Communication

  • What is the best way to explain the support available through the CRF?

  • How do we make the communication about the CRF clear and accessible?

1.3. Research methodology

Verian conducted 6 deliberative workshops via Zoom with a total of 36 participants in September and October 2025. A qualitative approach was chosen to ensure in-depth understanding of participants’ experience of accessing different types of financial crisis support and their initial views on the design of the CRF. The data reported in this research have not been designed to provide statistically representative analysis for the population as a whole. 40 participants were recruited for this research and there were 4 dropouts.

Workshops with parents and carers were 2.5 hours long and had a target of 10 participants per group. This was to give sufficient time for participants to share their views and experiences, engage with stimulus materials and work together on co-design.

Smaller groups (5 participants) lasting 2 hours were convened for those of working age who did not have children, in order to split this cohort into 2 narrower age bands (25 to 40 and 41 to 64). Similarly, groups of 5 were convened for participants over 65, lasting 2 hours.

The workshops incorporated elements of deliberative research. Deliberative methods are commonly described as a hybrid between consultation and research. They aim to involve the public in decision‐making in a meaningful way. While in some ways similar to qualitative research methods such as focus groups, they provide an opportunity for participants to find out more about a topic, consider relevant evidence and discuss this evidence with other participants before presenting their view.

Participants in this study were introduced with new information about the potential design of the CRF, who it was for, and how it would work.

Participants were also involved in a co-design exercise related to the Fund. Co-design in qualitative research is a collaborative approach where researchers work with people with lived experience to shape activities, such as defining research questions or creating solutions. Participants were asked to design their own CRF and consider what elements it would need to include to work for them and others who may need to access the Fund.

The study also used projective scenario techniques in the form of fictional personas. Personas are fictional descriptions of individuals in particular life situations relevant to the research topic. Personas help participants by enabling them to engage with a hypothetical situation and discuss how individuals in that situation may think, feel and behave. In this research personas helped participants to think through what solutions and support might help that person experiencing a financial difficulty.

1.4. Sampling

Verian used purposive sampling[footnote 1] to ensure participants with relevant experience of financial crises were recruited for the study, and to ensure a spread of participants against key criteria.

Primary criteria for recruitment were:

  • Family type: single parent (working age), in a couple with children (working age), working age with no children, aged 65+
  • Number of children: one child, 2 children, 3 or more children
  • Working status: working (part-time or full-time), not working
  • Experience of previous LA financial support: Such as the Household Support Fund (HSF) and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs)
  • Location: those who lived in rural or urban areas in England

In addition, the sample included participants who had accessed foodbanks, community food initiatives and/or the Department for Education’s (DfE) Holiday and Activities Food Programme.

1.5 Recruitment quotas

Table 1 shows how the spread of family type, number of children, age and working status among workshops.

Table 1 – Breakdown of types of groups

Type Group 1 – Single parent (working age) Group 2 – In a couple with children (working age) Group 3 – Aged 25 to 40 – No children Group 4 – Aged 41 to 64 – No children Group 6 – Aged 65+ Group 6 – Aged 65+ Total
Target 10 10 5 5 5 5 40
Achieved 7 10 5 4 5 5 36
Length 2.5 hours 2.5 hours 2 hours 2 hours 2 hours 2 hours –

Table 2 shows a breakdown of achieved primary quotas across workshops. Quotas were designed to reflect the total number of participants and were not designed per group. Some quotas, such as number of children, were only relevant for specific groups such as Group 1 and Group 2. Quotas for working status were relevant for Groups 1 to 4. Experience of support and location were relevant for all groups.

Table 2: Achieved primary quotas* across workshops

Quota Target (minimum) Achieved
One child 5 8
2 children 5 5
3 children 5 4
Working full or part time 10 19
Not working 10 7
Have received LA financial support 15 18
Have accessed food banks/community food initiatives/DfE’s Holiday and Activities Food Programme 5 12
Urban 10 18
Rural 10 18

*Primary quotas are not mutually exclusive

1.6 Recruitment

Recruitment was conducted by Acumen on behalf of Verian and consisted of 2 approaches:

  • Contacting those who took part in the Parents and Carers Research who had agreed to be recontacted during the first phase of research. Verian aimed to include 10 parents and carers from this phase in the second phase of research on the CRF.

  • Contacting potential new participants on the Acumen database.

Individuals were called and asked if they would like to take part in 2 hour or 2.5hour workshop (depending on their family type and age) and if interested, they were then asked a series of screening questions to determine their suitability.

They were then allocated to the relevant workshop – depending on their demographics - and invited to take part in the relevant workshop with a Verian moderator. Participants were offered a £105 voucher for taking part in the workshops lasting 2.5 hours and a £95 voucher for individuals taking part in the shorter 2-hour workshops as a thank you for their time (this included £15 for completing a pre-task to be completed prior to the workshop).

As part of the screening process, the material deprivation questions from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) FYE 2024 were used to screen for those with experience of poverty.

Material Deprivation is a direct measure of poverty derived from the lack of items deemed to be necessary for a minimum acceptable standard of living. It reflects a broader range of financial pressures, such as high costs and debt burdens that income-based statistics alone do not fully capture. It is further suited for use in research screening as it does not require asking participants for details on their income, which some may consider intrusive or difficult to recall with precision.

Participants were recruited if they lacked 4+ items on the list. If they did not have a good or service, they are asked whether this is because they do not want them or because they cannot afford them. Table 3 outlines the breakdown of those who reported lacking items due to affordability by number of items. The recruitment screener and material deprivation questions are in Appendix 2.2.

Table 3: Number of questions answered ‘No We/I do not have the money for this’

Number of questions answered ‘No – We/I do not have the money for this’ Number of participants
4 to 6 15
7 to 9 9
10 to 12 6
13to 15 6
16+ 3

1.7 Research materials

Research materials were developed by Verian and signed off by DWP ahead of the fieldwork period. These materials included:

  • Information sheet (Appendix 2.1) to inform participants of the nature of the study and how their data would be used
  • Recruitment screener (Appendix 2.2) used to screen participants and to monitor and achieve quotas
  • Workshop activity guide (Appendix 2.3)
  • Follow-up support leaflet (Appendix 2.4)

1.8 Analysis and deliverables

Workshops were recorded for note-taking purposes. Following the workshops, moderators summarised the key points from the raw data into an analysis grid which grouped the data by key areas of enquiry. Moderators also added verbatim quotes from interviews which illustrated key points and summarised participants’ particular viewpoints.

Analysis sessions were conducted with all workshop moderators to discuss interim findings that informed the interim presentation, and to discuss overall findings to inform the final deliverables. The purpose of the analysis sessions were to reach a consensus on the salient points across all workshops, explore differences in experiences by different workshop characteristics, and identify illustrative case studies. The notes from these sessions, combined with data from the analysis grids, were used to inform the next stage of thematic analysis which included refining themes, testing findings, and supporting analysis with verbatim quotes.

The findings were published in a final report.

2. Appendix

2.1 Information sheet

Workshops 1 and 2

What is the research about?

The UK government is developing a new Crisis and Resilience Fund to help people during times of financial difficulty to find support and ways of building long term financial stability.

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is a new scheme for England, launching from 1 April 2026. It builds on the types of support previously offered through the Household Support Fund (HSF) and brings together key funding streams including Discretionary Housing Payments into one fund. The CRF will provide crisis payments to people on low incomes who experience a financial shock and will also help people become more financially resilient, so they are better able to deal with crises in the long term. Local authorities will manage the fund and will work with charities and community organisations, to provide support locally.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has commissioned an independent research agency, Verian, to conduct research with people to understand how the CRF can effectively provide timely and accessible crisis support. The research also wants to understand how the CRF can refer and support people to access and engage with activities that build financial resilience.

Who is Verian?

Verian is an independent social research organisation. We have a lot of experience of doing high-quality research, working with government departments and local authorities to provide insights into what makes policies effective. More information is available at veriangroup.com.

What will taking part involve?

You have been invited to a 2.5-hour workshop to explore the future design of the CRF. The workshops will take place online via Zoom in September and October 2025. You will receive a £105 voucher, as a thank you for taking part. This includes £15 for completing a short task before the workshop.

Why should I take part?

Your insights during the workshop will help government to understand how best to design the CRF to provide timely and accessible crisis support and improve financial resilience.

Do I have to take part?

No, your participation is entirely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the research at any time. You can refuse to answer individual questions in the workshop or withdraw from the workshop at any point if you wish to. At no stage within this research will any personal details be shared with DWP. DWP will never know who has taken part in the research. Taking part will not affect any support or benefits that you might receive from DWP in any way, now, or in the future.

Will DWP know I have taken part, and how will my data be used?

The DWP staff who are involved in this work are not aware of who we are speaking to. Verian will treat all information as completely confidential, and any information will only be used for the purpose of this research. Data collected from this independent research will not be used for any performance monitoring or financial auditing purposes. Data collected will be stored securely by Verian and handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.

The main research output will consist of a written report with anonymised quotes. These will not contain any personal identifiable information.

How long will the data collected be stored?

This data will be kept by the Verian research team stored on secure drives and destroyed within 3 months of the projects’ completion.

Who can I talk with to learn more?

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the work taking place you can contact:

Verian colleagues:

  • XXXX, Project Lead, XXX@veriangroup.com
  • XXXX, Project Director, XXX@veriangroup.com

DWP colleagues:

Workshops 3, 4 5, and 6

What is the research about?

The UK government is developing a new Crisis and Resilience Fund to help people during times of financial difficulty to find support and ways of building long term financial stability.

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is a new scheme for England, launching from 1 April 2026. It builds on the types of support previously offered through the Household Support Fund (HSF) and brings together key funding streams including Discretionary Housing Payments into one fund. The CRF will provide crisis payments to people on low incomes who experience a financial shock and will also help people become more financially resilient, so they are better able to deal with crises in the long term. Local authorities will manage the fund and will work with charities and community organisations, to provide support locally.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has commissioned an independent research agency, Verian, to conduct research with people to understand how the CRF can effectively provide timely and accessible crisis support. The research also wants to understand how the CRF can refer and support people to access and engage with activities that build financial resilience.

Who is Verian?

Verian is an independent social research organisation. We have a lot of experience of doing high-quality research, working with government departments and local authorities to provide insights into what makes policies effective. More information is available at veriangroup.com.

What will taking part involve?

You have been invited to a 2-hour workshop to explore the future design of the CRF. The workshops will take place online via Zoom in September and October 2025. You will receive a £95 voucher as a thank you for taking part. This includes £15 for completing a short task before the workshop.

Why should I take part?

Your insights during the workshop will help government to understand how best to design the CRF to provide timely and accessible crisis support and improve financial resilience.

Do I have to take part?

No, your participation is entirely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the research at any time. You can refuse to answer individual questions in the workshop or withdraw from the workshop at any point if you wish to. At no stage within this research will any personal details be shared with DWP. DWP will never know who has taken part in the research. Taking part will not affect any support or benefits that you might receive from DWP in any way, now, or in the future.

Will DWP know I have taken part, and how will my data be used?

The DWP staff who are involved in this work are not aware of who we are speaking to. Verian will treat all information as completely confidential, and any information will only be used for the purpose of this research. Data collected from this independent research will not be used for any performance monitoring or financial auditing purposes. Data collected will be stored securely by Verian and handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.

The main research output will consist of a written report with anonymised quotes. These will not contain any personal identifiable information.

How long will the data collected be stored?

This data will be kept by the Verian research team stored on secure drives and destroyed within 3 months of the projects’ completion.

Who can I talk with to learn more?

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the work taking place you can contact:

Verian colleagues:

  • XXXX, Project Lead, XXX@veriangroup.com
  • XXXX, Project Director, XXX@veriangroup.com

DWP colleagues:

Recruitment screener

Q007 - INTRODUCTION: Text

Hello, my name is X and I am calling on behalf of Verian an independent research organisation. Verian has been asked to carry out some important research on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The UK government is developing a new Crisis and Resilience Fund to help people during times of financial difficulty to find support and ways of building long term financial stability.

Verian has been asked to carry out research to understand people’s experiences of managing essential living costs, their experiences of accessing support and their thoughts on what the CRF should look like.

The research is an exciting opportunity for people to be heard by the government and for their voices to help inform decisions the government makes.

Taking part in the research involves an online discussion via Zoom with [READ OUT AS APPROPRIATE] up to 4 other / up to 9 other people. This would last up [READ OUT AS APPROPRIATE] 2 hours / 2.5 hours. You will also be asked to complete and share a short task before joining the discussion. The task will only take you a few minutes. As a thank you for taking part, you would receive [READ OUT AS APPROPRIATE] £95 / £105 Love2Shop voucher.

[READ OUT TO ALL]

  • The research is completely voluntary, confidential and all reporting will be anonymous, which means Verian will not use names and information will not be traceable back to anyone who takes part.
  • You do not have to take part and if you do decide to take part you may stop taking part at any time.

  • Verian is completely independent from DWP.

  • Verian will not be giving the client (DWP) any details of people who take part that could be traced back to them This means DWP will not be able to identify individuals took part in the research.

At no stage within this research will any personal details be shared with DWP. DWP will never know who has taken part in the research. Taking part will not affect any support or benefits that you might receive from DWP in any way, now, or in the future

We were wondering if you would be interested in taking part?

1. Yes - CONTINUE TO SCREEN

2.  No - THANKS AND CLOSE AND RECORD REASON FOR REFUSAL………………………………………………………………

Q008 CRF_CHECK: Single coded

Max = 1

As part of this research, we will be discussing the best way to design a fund that can offer support for those in financial difficulties. Is this something that you could envisage using at some point?

NOTE TO RECRUITER IF CODE 1 = RECRUIT

IF CODE 2 = DO NOT RECRUIT

1. Yes

2. No

Q008b -GROUP_QUALIFY_CHECK: Multi coded

Max = 1

Which of the following best describes your current stage in life? NOTE TO RECRUITER

A DEPENDENT CHILD IS DEFINED AS AN INDIVIDUAL AGED UNDER 16. A PERSON WILL ALSO BE DEFINED AS A CHILD IF THEY ARE 16 TO 19-YEARS OLD AND THEY ARE: NOT MARRIED NOR IN A CIVIL PARTNERSHIP NOR LIVING WITH A PARTNER; AND LIVING WITH PARENTS; AND IN FULL-TIME NON-ADVANCED EDUCATION OR IN UNWAGED GOVERNMENT TRAINING.

IF CODE 1 DO NOT RECRUIT

IF CODE 2 OR CODE 3 = RECRUIT FOR GROUPS 1 OR GROUP 2

IF CODE 4 = RECRUIT FOR GROUP 3 IF CODE 5 = RECRUIT FOR GROUP 4

IF CODE 6 OR CODE 7 OR CODE 8 = RECRUIT FOR GROUP 5 OR GROUP 6 IF CODE 9 = DO NOT RECRUIT

1. I am under 18 years old

2.  I am a parent / carer of dependent child under 16 years old and I am aged between 18 and 64

3.  I am a parent / carer of a dependent child aged 16 – 19 years and I am aged between 18 and 64

4. I am not a parent/carer of a dependent child and I am aged 25 – 40

5. I am not a parent/carer of a dependent child and I am aged 41 – 64

6. I am a parent / carer of dependent child under 16 years old and I am aged 65+

7. I am a parent / carer of a dependent child aged 16 – 19 years and I am aged 65+

8. I am aged 65+ and I am not carer of a dependent child

9. None of the above

Q008b -GROUP_QUALIFY_CHECK: Multi coded

Max = 1

Which of the following best describes your current stage in life? NOTE TO RECRUITER

A DEPENDENT CHILD IS DEFINED AS AN INDIVIDUAL AGED UNDER 16. A PERSON WILL ALSO BE DEFINED AS A CHILD IF THEY ARE 16 TO 19-YEARS OLD AND THEY ARE: NOT MARRIED NOR IN A CIVIL PARTNERSHIP NOR LIVING WITH A PARTNER; AND LIVING WITH PARENTS; AND IN FULL-TIME NON-ADVANCED EDUCATION OR IN UNWAGED GOVERNMENT TRAINING.

IF CODE 1 DO NOT RECRUIT

IF CODE 2 OR CODE 3 = RECRUIT FOR GROUPS 1 OR GROUP 2

IF CODE 4 = RECRUIT FOR GROUP 3 IF CODE 5 = RECRUIT FOR GROUP 4

IF CODE 6 OR CODE 7 OR CODE 8 = RECRUIT FOR GROUP 5 OR GROUP 6 IF CODE 9 = DO NOT RECRUIT

10. I am under 18 years old

11.  I am a parent / carer of dependent child under 16 years old and I am aged between 18 and 64

12.  I am a parent / carer of a dependent child aged 16 – 19 years and I am aged between 18 and 64

13. I am not a parent/carer of a dependent child and I am aged 25 – 40

14. I am not a parent/carer of a dependent child and I am aged 41 – 64

15. I am a parent / carer of dependent child under 16 years old and I am aged 65+

16. I am a parent / carer of a dependent child aged 16 – 19 years and I am aged 65+

17. I am aged 65+ and I am not carer of a dependent child

18. None of the above

Q010 - QUALIFY_QUESTIONS: Matrix

Material Deprivation Questions

Max = 1

We would now like to ask you a series of questions that will help us to know if we are reaching the people we need to talk to for this research. Just to let you know, there are quite a few questions but they are all really important to make sure that we include people living in a range of different circumstances from across the UK.

NOTE TO RECRUITER

ASK EACH QUESTION INDIVIDUALLY IF PARTICIPANT ANSWERS “YES” CODE

AS 3 IN GRID

IF PARTICIPANT ANSWERS “NO” CODE AS 1 OR 2 AS BELOW AND CODE

THEIR MAIN REASON ONLY

IF PARTICIPANT CODES 1 FOR 4 OR MORE OF THE QUALIFY MATRIX QUESTIONS RECRUIT, ELSE THANK AND CLOSE

1 – No, We/I do not have the money for this 2 – No, but for another reason or not applicable 3 – Yes Ask for:
Able to pay bills without cutting back on essentials – – – All
Able to put money aside for unexpected expenses – – – All
Are you able to put money aside to cover unexpected expenses? – – – All
Cover cost of repair or to replace appliances – – – All
Home in good state of decoration/repair – – – All
Home adequately warm in cold weather – – – All
Is your home damp free? – – – All
Do you have reliable access to the internet at home? – – – All
Access to computer/tablet – – – All
Adequate access to reliable transport – – – All
Heating/electrics/plumbing in good working order – – – All
Do you have home contents insurance? – – – All
Do you usually have 3 meals a day? – – – All
Do you usually have fresh fruit and/or vegetables every day – – – All
Do you have an annual break away from home – – – All
Do you have Regular money worries at the end of the month – – – Adults no children groups and 65+ groups only
Do you make regular payments to workplace or private pension       Adults no children groups only
Do you have appropriate clothes for work/job interview – – – Adults no children groups only
Do you have regular dental appointments? – – – Adults no children and 65+ groups only
Do you go out socially at least monthly? – – – Adults no children and 65+ groups only
Do you see friends and family at least monthly? – – – Adults no children and 65+ groups only
Do you have at least a small amount of money for yourself? – – – Adults no children and 65+ groups only
Does your child / do your children go on school trips? – – – Parents only
Does your child / do your children have a place for homework – – – Parents only
Does your child / do your children have enough clothes that they feel comfortable to wear? – – – Parents only
Does your child / do your children take part in organized weekly activity after school? – – – Parents only
Does your child / do your children have friends around (at least) monthly? – – – Parents only
Does your child / do your children have age suitable toys / games? – – – Parents only
Do you have enough bedrooms for children 10+ years (for example a child aged 10+ years has their own bedroom)? – – – Parents only
Does your child / do your children go to nursery / playgroup at least weekly? – – – Parents of age appropriate children only

Q011 -FAMILY_TYPE: Single coded

Max = 1

Which of the following best describes your family type?

NOTE TO RECRUITER ONLY ASK IF RECRUITING FOR GROUP 1 OR GROUP 2 IF CODE 1 = RECRUIT 10 FOR GROUP 2

IF CODE 2 = RECRUIT 10 FOR GROUP 1

1. Couple with child / children

2. Single parent

Q012 -NUMBER_OF_CHILDREN: Single coded

Max = 1

And how many children do you have?

NOTE TO RECRUITER ONLY ASK IF RECRUITING FOR GROUP 1 OR GROUP 2 THIS IS THE NUMBER OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN IN THE HOUSEHOLD 19

YEARS OR UNDER (please refer to the definition of a dependent child from Q0008) IF CODE 1 = RECRUIT MIN 5

IF CODE 2 = RECRUIT 5

IF CODE 3 = RECRUIT 5

AIM TO MIX ACROSS BOTH GROUPS

1. One child

2. Two children

3. Three or more children

013- WORKING_STATUS: Single coded

Max = 1

Which of these best describes the adult(s) in the household’s current work status?

NOTE TO RECRUITER

IF CODE 1 = RECRUIT MIN 10 ACROSS GROUPS 1 – 4 AND RECORD FOR GROUPS 5 - 6

IF CODE 2 = RECRUIT MIN 10 ACROSS GROUPS 1 – 4 AND RECORD FOR GROUPS 5 – 6

1. There are no adults in the household currently employed (e.g. unemployed, in full time education, long term sick etc.)

2.  One adult in the household or more is employed (this maybe full time, part time, temporary contract etc.)

Q014 LA_SUPPORT: Single coded

Max = 1

Have you or anyone in your household had any financial support from your local authority in the last 12 months? This could be Household Support Fund, Discretionary Housing Payments or other local welfare support

NOTE TO RECRUITER RECRUIT MIN 15

1. Yes

2. No

Q015 FOOD_SUPPORT: Single coded

Max = 1

Have you or anyone in your household accessed any local food support in the last 12 months?

NOTE TO RECRUITER AIM TO RECRUIT MIN 5

THIS COULD BE FOOD BANKS / COMMUNITY FOOD INITIATIVES / DfE’s

HOLIDAY AND ACTIVITIES FOOD PROGRAMME

Please specify…………………

1. Yes

2. No

Q016 – URBAN / RURAL : Single coded

What best describes the area in which you live? NOTE TO RECRUITER

IF CODE 1 = RECRUIT 10

IF CODE 2 = RECRUIT MIN 10

1. Rural / semi-rural

2. Urban / suburban

Q017 - INVITATION: Text

We would like you to take part in an online discussion via Zoom with [READ OUT AS APPROPRIATE] with up to 4 other / up to 9 other people. This would last up [READ OUT AS APPROPRIATE] 2 hours / 2.5 hours.

You will also be asked to complete and share a short task before joining the discussion. The task will only take you a few minutes. As a thank you for taking part, you would receive [READ OUT AS APPROPRIATE] £95 / £105 Love2Shop voucher.

You will receive your e-voucher within 10 working days following the research discussion. Please note you will need to collect your funds within 6 months as the code will expire.

The discussion will take place online via ZOOM / [CONFIRM DATE AND TIME]

With your permission, we will be recording the discussions. The discussions will be confidential and anonymous – your details will not be shared with anyone except the Verian research team and will be used solely for research purposes. Recordings will be deleted 3 months after the end of the project.

You do not need to have any prior knowledge to take part in this research. We will not be testing your knowledge, but simply asking for your views and opinions on your experiences.

Q018 - CONFIRMATION: Single coded

Are you happy to participate in this research?

IF CODE 2 = RECORD REASON FOR REFUSAL. THANK AND CLOSE.

1. Yes

2. No - RECORD REASON………………………………………………………….

1. Participant is not confident in English

2. No – this is not needed

Q019 - PRIVACYPOLICY: Single coded

READ OUT: As part of our commitment to protecting your rights, please note that Verian’s privacy policy can be accessed on our Verian website. We can also provide you with a written copy of the policy.

Please note that Verian is a member of the MRS, the Market Research Society and this research is being conducted in accordance with the MRS Code of Conduct and the Data Protection Act 2018 as well as in compliance with the GDPR.

RECRUITER: ENSURE THE VERIAN THANK YOU LEAFLET PDF IS SENT TO PARTICIPANTS WITH THE APPOINTMENT CONFIRMATION EMAIL. PLEASE SPEAK TO YOUR RESEARCH CONTACT IF IN DOUBT.

RECRUITER, CONFIRM THAT PARTICIPANT HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF HOW TO ACCESS PRIVACY POLICY. DO NOT RECRUIT OTHERWISE.

1. YES - PARTICIPANT HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF PRIVACY POLICY

Q020 - ONLINE_CONSENT: Single coded

To confirm, the research will take place as an online video call through Zoom that you will access from a link that will be emailed out to you before the research discussion date.

The research interview will last up to 2hrs / up to 2.5 hrs Participation will involve the following:

  • Ahead of the discussion date, you will receive an email with a link to join the discussion at the agreed date/time.

  • At the time of the interview, please click on the emailed link to join the discussion - you may be asked to enter your name (this should just be your first name)

On this basis, are you comfortable and happy to take part in this research interview? IF CODE 2 = DO NOT RECRUIT

1. Yes, comfortable and able to take part

2. No, not comfortable and unable to take part online

Q021 - ONLINE_TECH: Single coded

You will need to have access to a device that has a camera (and built in mic) and can connect to the internet. (This could be a tablet, smartphone, laptop, PC)

Do you have access to such a device?

IF CODE 3 = DO NOT RECRUIT FOR ONLINE RECRUIT FOR TELEPHONE NOTE TO RECRUITER

PLEASE PROBE FOR TYPES OF DEVICES PARTICIPANT HAS ACCESS TO, PARTICIPANTS SHOULD AIM JOIN USING A LAPTOP OR HOME COMPUTER OR TABLET.

1. Yes - have a smartphone/tablet/laptop/similar that has a camera and mic and can connect to the internet

2. Yes - I only have access to smartphone

3. No - do not have access to such a device

2.3 Activity guide

Session – Pre-task – 15 minutes to be completed before the workshop

Participants will be asked to answer the following:

  • What might a difficult financial situation look like for you and your household?
    • It may be helpful to think about what could be happening in your life to make your financial situation feel really tight/difficult.
  • If you were in financial difficulties and facing an urgent crisis, where would you go to for help?
  • What kind of help would you want from your local authority/council if you were struggling with money problems?If you wanted advice or support to feel more secure with money in the future, where would you go?

Materials:

Participants will be emailed with the pre-task details including a proforma to complete.

The proforma will capture descriptions of participants’ thoughts regarding the 3 prompts.

Participants will be asked to email back the proforma prior to the workshop as well as come prepared to talk about it.

Session – Welcome and introduction

Introduction to the project and the objectives of the session.

1. Verian moderator to introduce themselves and the workshop and set expectations and ground rules.

2. Reminder we will not share details of who you are with DWP – this is confidential and voluntary and the research does not affect your relationship with DWP.

3. Short Q&A for participants to ask any clarification questions.

PowerPoint slides:

Introduction:

  • research background
  • objectives of the workshop
  • how the session will run, including a break
  • ground rules
  • confidentiality, respectful discussion, voluntary participation
  • anonymity in reporting and the workshop ground rules

Overall duration of the session - 5 minutes.

CHECK EVERYONE IS HAPPY FOR RECORDING TO BEGIN

Session – 1. Current support options – 30 minutes

[Break-out into 2 smaller groups for parent/carer workshops]

Participant intros and brief discussion of pre-task [5 minutes]:

  • participants to introduce themselves and share what they like to do in their spare time
  • Warm up task: How easy/difficult was the pre- task? How did it make you feel thinking about seeking help for any financial difficulties you may face?
  • (Slide 5) Introduction to DWP, the aim of the research and what the outputs will be feeding into
  • high level introduction to topic of the Crisis and Resilience fund

NOTE: MODERATORS TO REVIEW PROFORMAS PRIOR TO WORKSHOPS TO SUPPORT DICSUSSIONS

Understanding how people currently think about sources of support and financial resilience [15 minutes]:

Moderator to use whiteboard slide to capture:

  • Sources of support
  • Types of support
  • What works well
  • Barriers
  • Gaps

Discussion: Explore baseline awareness and perceptions of current support options and what preventative support means to them

  • If you, or someone you know was facing financial difficulties – where would you go/suggest they go to get support? (Slide 7)
    • Probe on different organisations such as Local Authority/the council, Citizens Advice, charities
    • Probe on informal support such as friends and family
    • What type of support are you seeking? Is it just money or other types of support?
  • Would this change if the situation was an emergency/crisis vs a more ongoing/long term issue?
  • Have you had experience of accessing support? (Slide 8)
    • What worked/what was difficult?
    • What barriers have you experienced in accessing support?
    • Have you used the Household Support Fund or Discretionary Housing Payments? What was your experience? Where did you hear about these?
  • Thinking about what support is currently available that you are aware of, are there any obvious gaps? (Slide 9)
  • What does ‘preventative support’ mean to you? Can you think of some examples?
  • What would be most useful for you in helping you feel financially secure?

Session – 2. Exploring option for the CRF - 40 minutes

Reactions to the CRF and the options around the CRF

Stimulus slides:

  • Introduction to the CRF
  • Financial resilience activities
  • Language

Moderator to present stimulus slides and pause to discuss after each section.

1. Introduction to the CRF (slides 11 to 14):

  • What are your first reactions to what you’ve now heard about the CRF?
  • Would this be something you think could be useful to you or others you know?

2. Financial resilience activities (slides 15 to 16):

  • What does being financial resilient mean to you?
  • Thinking about your own circumstances, what makes it harder for you to build financial resilience?
  • How helpful would the CRF be in getting people back on track long term?
  • Any barriers to engaging with these types of activities being a condition of receiving the CRF?
  • Are there any particular groups of people this might be more useful/less useful for?

3. Language:

  • Thinking about the language that has been used to describe the CRF and the activities, does any of it feel confusing or unhelpful?
  • Are there any terms of phrases you think it might be helpful to change?
  • Is there anything that feels particularly positive or anything that feels particularly off-putting?

Moderator wrap up before break: What we have presented so far is the government’s initial ideas of how they could design and implement the CRF and financial resilience building activities. We’d now like to hear from you and give you the opportunity to design what this fund and support could look like and how it could work best for people like you and people you know.

Comfort break – 10 minutes

3. Co-designing activity [Remain in 2 smaller groups for parent/career workshops] – 30 minutes, 40 minutes extended for larger parent workshops

Personas – 3 short profiles describing individuals in different circumstances who are facing financial difficulties

Co-designing the ideal offer:

Moderator: In this session we are going to put you in the driving seat and ask you to work together as a group to share your thoughts and ideas on what the CRF could look like and how it could best provide support for the people who need.

Firstly, we’re going to look at 3 made-up people who are in different circumstances but each facing financial difficulties. I want you to think through how the CRF could work best for them.

Personas: Moderator to use whiteboard slides to capture key features of CRF that would be needed to make it work for that individual. Moderator to capture the key features of the ‘ideal offer’ for the CRF.

Taking each persona in turn (slides 19 to 22)

Moderator to capture the key features of the ‘ideal offer’ for the CRF.

  • What kind of support does X need?
  • Short term?
  • Longer term?
  • What kind of preventative support might help X to be less reliant on the CRF in future?
  • How well do you think the CRF could help them accessing the support they need?
  • What would be the best ways to overcome these obstacles?
  • How would you describe what the CRF is to that person to make sure they felt that it was something for them?

Moderator: Now let’s reflect on your suggestions for each persona.

Moderator to capture description in the participants’ own words/language. Highlight those flagged as most important.

  • How different/similar are the options you developed for each person?
  • What are the most important aspects that are common to everyone?

Thinking about the personas but also about yourselves and people you know, I want you to think through what the ‘ideal offer’ for the CRF should be.

  • Thinking through features such as access and eligibility, what’s going to work best for the people who need this?

  • How would you describe the role and benefits of the CRF as you’ve created it, to ensure people who need to access it will? (Slide 23)

    • Are there particular words/terms/phrases in your description that you think are particularly important to use in communicating the CRF?

Reflections and prioritisation:

Moderator to summarise key themes and play them back to the group.

  • If you were responsible for creating the guidance for local authorities (councils) around how you run the fund, what do you think the top 5 key principles are that you would want to give them to shape how they go about it? It might be helpful to think about things like who should be eligible, how they might apply, what form should the support take, what feels fair etc (slide 24)
  • Thinking about yourselves now, do you think the ‘ideal CRF’ as you described it would be something that could be helpful to you?
  • What sort of difference would it make to you to have this available?
  • For parent workshops, moderator to ask for a participant volunteer in their group to feedback the last 2 slides – description and 5 key principles – to the other group.

Thank and close – 5 minutes (15 minutes for larger workshops)

(For the larger parent workshops, the breakout groups will come back together for the final session.)

  • Breakout groups to present their findings from slides 23 and 24 to each other.
  • Moderator to reflect on similarities and difference of findings from 2 groups.
  • What one message would you like us to pass on to DWP about the CRF? (Encourage them to write this in the chat function.)
  • Remind participants how their input will be used by DWP.
  • Thank them for their time and thoughtful contribution:

“Thank you for your contribution to this research. The government is committed to ensuring that the voices of people with lived experience of poverty and financial hardship are reflected in policy design. Your insights are directly informing the development of the Crisis and Resilience Fund – a new discretionary support scheme launching in April 2026. The CRF will provide crisis payments to people on low incomes who experience financial shocks and support longer-term financial resilience.

This research is helping shape how the fund can be delivered effectively by local authorities, working with charities and community to ensure support is timely, accessible, and tailored to local needs. Your contributions are helping ensure the fund reflects real experiences and needs, and that it works for a wide range of people and communities.

Thank you again for your time and valuable input”

  • Signpost to support resources that have been shared with them in advance.

2.4 Support leaflet

Mental health

Samaritans

  • Samaritans is a charity that provides free support to people who are struggling or need someone to listen
  • Contact Us – Samaritans
  • Call 116 123

MIND

  • Mental health charity
  • Support helpline 0300 102 1234 open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm

Young Minds

Financial advice

Turn2Us

National Debt Helpline

  • An independent debt advice charity, which aims to help people across the UK tackle their debts and manage their money with confidence
  • Speak to an adviser for free: Call 0808 808 4000, 9am-8pm Monday to Friday, 9:30am-1pm Saturday.
  • Free Debt Support – National Debtline

Debt Free Advice

  • Coalition of charities that provide free, expert advice on problem debt.
  • Welcome to Debt Free Advice
  • Free helpline open 7 days a week 8am-8pm 0800 808 5700

Step Change [ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES ONLY]

  • Debt advice charity. They provide free and impartial advice, online and by phone, as well managed debt solutions and help with budgeting.
  • Speak to an advisor call: +448001381111. Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm.

Money Advice Scotland [SCOTLAND ONLY]

Housing

Shelter

Benefits

Department for Work and Pensions Helplines

Food

Your local pantry

Parenting

Netmums

General

ACAS [ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES ONLY]

Citizens Advice England

Citizens Advice Wales

  • The Citizens Advice service provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities.
  • Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice Northern Ireland

Citizens Advice Scotland

  • The Citizens Advice service provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities.
  • Citizens Advice

Buttle UK

  • Charity dedicated to helping children and young people in the UK who have experienced crisis, living in financial hardship and dealing with multiple challenging social issues

  • You can apply for a grant at Our grants – Buttle

  1. Purposive sampling is a non-probability sampling technique where researchers intentionally select participants based on specific characteristics that are relevant to their study. ↩

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