Theme 1 - Tackling Cost of Living Crisis Scheme 1 – Advice, information, and crisis support

Overview

Tower Hamlets Council Strategic Plan 2022-2026 sets out our commitment to support our most vulnerable residents during challenging times and to work tirelessly to tackle inequality. One of the priorities of the Plan is tackling the cost of living crisis.

Projects approved under this scheme are delivering services to mitigate and reduce levels of poverty by supporting vulnerable residents and low-income households to access their rights, understand their obligations and maximise their incomes.

Outcomes

The outcome we want to achieve through this scheme are:

• Increased access for residents to social welfare advice and income from benefits
• Residents reporting/ experiencing improved personal budgeting, financial stability, and a reduction in personal debt
• Residents are helped to reduce the negative impacts of welfare reforms and housing re-possessions.
• Residents in crisis are supported
• Residents grow and develop new capabilities which stop them falling into poverty and help them escape it
• Better health and enhanced wellbeing, including access to housing
• Supporting residents to get access to nutritious food and drink
• Preventing residents from going into a crisis
• Better health and enhanced wellbeing, including access to housing
• Supporting residents to get access to nutritious food and drink
• Access to safe spaces where people build relationships and feel supported
• Local residents gain Learning to Advise and other accredited advice qualifications
• Local residents have improved opportunities for paid employment in the advice sector
• Improved quality of advice service received by local residents
• Increased access to high quality social welfare and law information for residents and advisors
• Continuation and development of local advice forums.

Priorities

6 organisations providing services to meet the following priorities:

• Information, advice and representation concerning individuals’ legal rights, particularly for vulnerable, marginalised and hard to reach groups, including disabled people
• Immigration/asylum advice and casework
• Debt advice and support with budgeting and financial stability, particularly for vulnerable, marginalised, and hard-to-reach groups
• Support with welfare benefits
• Housing/homelessness advice and casework
• Employment advice
• Income maximisation
• Support for residents in crisis, especially those needing immediate support

Projects

A total of £3,075,000 worth of projects have been funded under MCGP Theme 1 Scheme 1 to deliver projects until 31^st March 2027. Below are the list of projects which have been funded.