Closing the Gap Cost of Living Support Service

Reading Borough Council has completed the procurement process for their "Closing the Gap Cost of Living Support Service" project, which aims to mitigate the impacts of poverty and deprivation by providing practical tools, advice, and assistance to communities and individuals. This open procedure tender is in the award stage and was conducted in the services category, specifically under social work and related services, and other community, social, and personal services, based in Reading, United Kingdom. Expressions of interest concluded on 25 May 2025, with a standstill period ending on 18 August 2025.

The awarded contract is valued at £696,000 and will run from 1 November 2025 until 31 October 2028, with the possibility of a two-year renewal. This tender provides an opportunity for businesses within the social services sector to engage in work aimed at reducing health inequalities and promoting long-term community changes. Companies focused on community-based, preventative solutions, such as social enterprises and SMEs with a vested interest in social value and local welfare improvement, would find this contract beneficial.

The awarded supplier, Citizens Advice Reading, is well-suited to deliver on these goals, being a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) and a voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) with a track record in similar initiatives. Such projects are pivotal for businesses aiming to enhance their portfolio in public sector collaborations and expand their influence in vital community support services.