Warwickshire County Council: Empowering Vulnerable Residents with Huggg
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The Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme is dedicated to assisting the county's most vulnerable residents during periods of unavoidable crisis, providing essential support when no other means are available. Additionally, the scheme administers the Household Support Fund (HSF) on behalf of Warwickshire County Council, ensuring that residents can afford vital necessities such as energy and water bills, food, and other essential items.
The Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme has always supported residents by providing food through food banks or by posting shopping vouchers. However, the advent of the pandemic necessitated a significant shift. The scheme received additional grant funding from the DWP and faced the challenge of distributing vouchers on a much larger scale, while also offering residents more choices in where they could redeem their vouchers.
In 2021, the Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme began using Huggg, significantly enhancing their ability to support residents at scale. Huggg's platform enabled the immediate issuance of vouchers to successful applicants, ensuring that people in need received timely assistance. The platform streamlined the process, making it quick and efficient, and expanded the scheme’s offerings to include hygiene and clothing vouchers.
Feedback from residents indicates that they appreciate the speed of receiving immediate support and the flexibility of being able to select a retailer of choice.
"[Huggg is]...Efficient and easy. The bulk upload of vouchers has been incredibly supportive during our cost-of-living campaigns. The support from the Huggg team has been great, whether via our accounts manager or direct through the chat. It is accessible for customers to enable them to be proactive and self-sufficient."
Leanne Silverwood-White, Team Manager - Specialist Customer Services, WCC
Detailed reporting and redemption data
Team Manager, Leanne Silverwood-White explained that capability to upload vouchers in bulk has been particularly beneficial during cost-of-living campaigns. The support from the Huggg team has been particularly helpful, providing assistance through account managers and direct chat, which has made the system accessible and user-friendly for customers. It has enabled residents to be more proactive and self-sufficient.
Furthermore, Leanne says, Huggg's detailed reporting and provision of redemption data have been invaluable for maintaining compliance with Department for Work and Pensions requirements, ensuring transparency and accountability in the distribution of aid.
By providing immediate, flexible, and efficient aid, the scheme has been able to meet the needs of residents more effectively during challenging times, and continues to do so today.
