1. Help-desk: every week day the desk is open to support residents with reading and explaining letters, form filling, signposting to the appropriate service providers both internal and external and supporting them to make phone calls to agencies such as the DHSS, councils, Jobcentre, probation, police and utility firms. Common problems involve working tax credits, benefits, bills, council tax, housing problems, rubbish, anti-social behaviour and getting a doctor, dentist or a school place. The centre has volunteer translators for the non-English speaking members of the community. The Czech speaker is particularly important for the Czech and Slovak Roma residents.
2. Supporting the homeless and sofa surfers: personal hygiene is maintained through the centre’s shower with soap and towels provided, and a clothes washing service. The centre also hands out donated cloths, sundries and food parcels to the neediest. These often include ex-servicemen, ex-prisoners and those with mental health or alcohol and drug problems. Increasingly beneficiaries are also people and families that have been ‘hit’ by the recession.
3. Accommodation service: the centre has built relationships with landlords and letting agencies so accommodation can be found for residents who have or are about to be made homeless. The centre supports the setting-up of new homes through the distribution of donated household goods e.g. sauce pans, cutlery, bedding and towels.
4. Individual support: the centre is often asked by residents to support them through situations, for example attending court cases, or initial interviews for a school place. The centre works closely with a local GP, so an individual’s medical and social issues can be tackled in a holistic way. For example: the GP sees a child with asthma living in poor accommodation, so gives the appropriate medication and refers the parent to the centre to get help in finding better accommodation.
5. Budgeting and cooking skills: debt is common and often stems from residents’ poor knowledge of how to budget and prepare cheap, nutritious food. The centre helps residents gain budgeting skills, and runs basic cooking courses.
6. Getting a job: people are supported into employment by being helped with job searches, CVs and application forms; prepared for job interviews by going through basic questions, dress code, time keeping and directions to the interview. Regularly our clients move from receiving support to being a volunteer than into employment.
7. Emergency support: the centre regularly help adults and families that need immediate practical support to get through a crisis. This can be food parcels, a hot meal, a warm drink or an understanding person to listen and signpost to the right services.
