To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the (i) criteria; and (ii) application process for receipt of the energy payment provided for grassroots organisations impacted by rising costs in 2022.

Since 2022, on three separate occasions my Department has provided payments to support Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) organisations to meet the pressures associated with the cost-of-living crisis.

On each occasion payments were limited to those VCS organisations who had a funding relationship with the Department’s Voluntary & Community Division and Community Empowerment Division.

In May 2022 a payment of £1,000 was offered, with the additional criteria that the organisation’s funding included support for running costs;

In January 2023 a payment of up to £1,500 was offered with no additional criteria; and

In March 2024 a payment of £1,500 was provided also with no additional criteria.

For each payment the application process consisted of eligible organisations indicating that they wished to receive the support offered and completing a declaration to that effect.