From Council to Beneficiary: Managing Your VCSE Network with Huggg Wallets

If you’re planning to channel CRF funding through Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations (VCSEs), Huggg is built to support that structure. Rather than managing a single pot of money centrally, you can allocate funds directly to each VCSE partner through their own dedicated wallet, giving them the autonomy to distribute to beneficiaries while you retain a clear view of the full picture.

Organisations such as Citizens Advice, Age UK, and homelessness charities are often best placed to identify and reach the people your CRF funding is intended to support. They are embedded in local communities, understand the barriers their clients face, and can assess eligibility in ways that a council team operating at scale simply cannot. Huggg’s multi-wallet structure is designed to reflect this delivery model, with each VCSE operating as a delivery agent within your overall CRF scheme. 

Why Use VCSEs as CRF Delivery Agents

While there may be some variation in how policies are applied across different regions, there are several common advantages to working with TPOs:

• Understanding of Local Needs – VCSEs have a deep understanding of the challenges faced by local residents, especially hard-to-reach groups. Their familiarity with the community enables them to identify individuals who may otherwise fall through the cracks.
• Community Trust and Accessibility – local charities are often the first point of contact for vulnerable individuals. Their established presence within the community makes the application process more approachable, offering in-person assistance and tailored support.
• Enhanced Efficiency – VCSEs can help simplify the application process, reducing administrative burdens on local authorities and improving the speed and accuracy of fund distribution.
• Targeted Outreach – VCSEs are well-placed to engage with individuals who may not respond to traditional outreach efforts, increasing the overall reach of the program.
• Flexibility and Responsiveness – Local organisations can quickly adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring that support is delivered where and when it’s needed most.

Efficiency and Security

Huggg is designed around the council-to-VCSE-to-beneficiary delivery chain. Each VCSE partner receives their own dedicated wallet, funded by direct transfers you can make within your Huggg account They can distribute vouchers or payments to beneficiaries independently, without needing access to your wider scheme. This means your Citizens Advice office or any other partner can each manage their own allocation without any crossover or confusion between partners.

Compliance and reporting sit at the council level throughout. Huggg’s data reports give you full visibility of how each delivery partner is using their allocation, which can be used directly in any reporting requirements - great for controlling MI returns. Many authorities we’ve worked with have found that giving VCSEs their own wallets speeds up delivery considerably, removing the administrative back-and-forth of centralised sign-off for every payment.

Get started today - email marie@huggg.me to learn how to set up your VCSE partner wallets.