Author Archives: Ollie Locker

Newport Foodbank – Trussell Trust

Newport Trussell Trust Foodbank opened on the 19th November 2013.

We work in partnership with Newport Food Bank so that everything is synced and joined up.

Volunteers are in place, referrals are picking up and they’re seeing more clients each week. The people of Newport have been incredibly generous in providing foods and extras to fill our shelves and help those in need in and around our community.

Referrals to Newport Food Bank work in the same way as they do across the Borough.

On the Application Form it says “Newport Food Bank – Applicant will get a call to arrange collection” and on every application involving the Newport Food Bank, the applicant will get a call to arrange collection or delivery.

This is because their opening times are Tuesdays 1:30pm to 3:30pm and Thursdays 09:45am to 11:45am. Therefore, inevitably, this will not be convenient for some and Newport Food Bank do all that they can to work around these times to ensure prompt delivery.

So agencies should apply in the normal way, the applicant will get a call after 5pm the same day to arrange collection or delivery most likely the following working day.

If the Applicant is called and told to collect from Newport Food Bank, their address is:

Pop In, The Guildhall
High Street
Newport
TF10 7AR

If the Applicant does not have telephone, they should be told during the application process to make their way to Newport Food Bank when it is next open.

Emergency Use Only: Understanding and reducing the use of food banks in the UK

From Oxfam:

The use of emergency food aid in the UK, particularly in the form of food banks, has dramatically increased over the last decade. Research was jointly conducted by Oxfam, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), the Church of England and The Trussell Trust to examine why people are turning to food banks, how food bank use fits with their wider coping strategies, and what might be done to reduce the need that leads to food bank use.

Interviews with clients at seven food banks across the UK revealed that the acute crisis that leads people to turn to food banks is often set against a background of complex, difficult lives. Experiences included ill health, bereavement, relationship breakdown, heavy caring responsibilities or job loss, as well as constantly low income. The report shows that action is needed to ensure that the safety net provided by the social security system is vital. It can help prevent life shocks becoming crises, and offer vital protection for vulnerable people.

This report points to practical, measured changes in policy and practice that will help to reduce the need for food banks, and ensure vital support for people in times of crisis.

Report Summary

Full Report

Fraud and Error in the Benefit System (estimates)

Overpayments in the Benefits System

Summary

Amount overpaid: £3.4bn
Amount underpaid: £1.5bn

Fraud overpayment: £1.2bn (0.7%)
Claimant and Official Error overpayment: £2.2bn (1.3%)

Fraud and Error in the Benefit System (estimates) ~> .pdf

DWP Data Page

Octavia Court – Wrekin Housing Trust

From 1st September 2014, Octavia Court, Dawley will be managed in partnership by Shropshire Housing Alliance and The Wrekin Housing Trust.

About Octavia Court

This modern accommodation, just off Lancaster Avenue, Dawley, comprises of 11, fully furnished 1 bed apartments.

The site also hosts a communal lounge, training room and laundry facilities, along with a communal garden for tenants use.

There is limited car parking on site.

A number of apartments will be available for immediate let in September.

Who is it suitable for?

The accommodation will be available to tenants who are:

  • Single
  • 18+
  • Male or female
  • With low-level support needs
  • Willing to move on to a more permanent home within 6/12 months.

SHA will use the office facilities at Octavia Court, ensuring a regular presence and contact with residents. We’ll also use the communal areas, to provide appropriate training such as cooking on a budget, employment skills etc.

Examples of suitable tenants

  • Clients who haven’t held a tenancy before
  • Clients with low level support and life skill needs
  • Clients without basic furniture items
  • Clients who need short-term accommodation as part of a move-on into settled accommodation (eg relationship breakdown, ex-service personnel)

Tenancy Management

Tenants will hold a WHT tenancy agreement, and the day to day management will be undertaken by SHA’s Tenancy Sustainment Service. Arrears recovery, ASB and more involved aspects of the management of the tenancy will be undertaken in partnership with WHT (Dawley Team).

New tenants will have an individual assessment of needs based on:

  • Budgeting and financial capability
  • Tenancy management skills
  • Managing day to day financial commitments (utilities, rent, benefit claims, etc)
  • Training and employment
  • Support (referred on to local support providers)

Can you help us to identify tenants for Octavia Court?

We need your help! If you do come across a customer with a housing need who you feel may fit the criteria please let us know! We’ll need to take them through an affordability/risk assessment in the first instance. To recommend a client for accommodation at Octavia Court, or if you have any questions, please contact:

Yvette Juszkiewicz – 01952 217251 – 

Julie Miller – 01952 217496 – 

Store Partners on Twitter

Tweets from https://twitter.com/JakeSnr/lists/telford-community-store

Telford Community Store Launch

David Wright MP is helping launch a unique store in Telford this Saturday at 10am.

Telford Community Store is a collaboration between six local charities and a social enterprise, working together to deliver rapid cohesive services to people in crisis and using the store to raise much needed funds to support their co-operative projects.

Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin said “we are very excited to be taking part in this new venture in Telford, and hope that lots of people will come along and find out about how they can get involved. It is a wonderful opportunity for Age UK to raise money to support older people in Telford & Wrekin.”

In Store on Saturday, visitors can meet each of the charities and find out a little more about the work that they do and discover a broad range of volunteering opportunities that enable them to get involved.

There’ll be facepainting, henna painting, crafting, upcycling and examples of some of the community activities that take place every week, like christmas decoration swaps, clothes swaps, and toy swaps.

Maninplace will be highlighting their #bleakmidwinter project that works in partnership with others to try and ensure that no-one need sleep rough on our streets this winter. Stay will be raising awareness of their forthcoming #StayOut2014 event later this month and Telford Crisis Support will give a unique insight into how the Borough’s food bank work at the back of Store.

Christmas Smile will be there inviting folks to join their gift giving project to help raise smiles for children and older people who might otherwise go without on Christmas Day.

There’s plenty going on. Much of the work undertaken by the in store charities overlaps and by joining up in partnership, some of the themes that they tackle, like Winter Warmth for example, can be shown in a cohesive way.