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GLA Crisis Prevention Project

The GLA Crisis Prevention Project is a new partnership between the GLA, London Citizens Advice network, and the London Legal Support Trust (LLST), developed in response to the cost-of-living crisis, complementing City Bridge funding for an anti-poverty outreach advice project.

The GLA and City Bridge projects are about working in partnership with the community sector to support Londoners who are facing hardship and crisis. We currently work closely with 12 partner organisations to support those ‘hard-to-reach’ clients who need us most, but have not always accessed our service. These partners include The Upper Room (homeless and ex-prisoners), Mind (mental health), Turning Point (addiction) and Baron’s Court Project (homeless) as well as host of smaller organisations. The GLA project also funds a Specialist Caseworker who delivers more detailed casework for complex cases as well as the opportunity to build capacity through development of Advice First Aid.

Referrals to the project come directly from the partners.

Henry Smith Charity

Henry Smith has generously funded us to support the delivery of our Adviceline for 3 years, allowing us to dedicate paid resources to answering our high volume of calls. Our assessors are the first point of contact and undertake initial assessments to understand the problem and identify the most appropriate course of action for the clients. This added capacity has meant that we have been able to expand our initial assessment processes across multiple digital channels including email, webchat and WhatsApp.

Hammersmith United Charities

Hammersmith United Charity has supported people across the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham since 1618. Their generous grant supports us:

  • To deliver our assessment service, which is delivered across the week at our Avonmore Library site, outreach settings and via our call-centre.
  • Increase our capacity for assessments supporting the delivery of face to face advice, telephone adviceline and via digital platforms.
  • Enables us to roll-out our ‘Advice First Aid’ programme to grassroot organisations. ‘Advice First Aid’ is delivered to frontline non advice workers. Through this training we are able to inform frontline workers about issues they can support their client with, and strengthen referral pathways from their organisations to Citizens Advice services.

    • Dr Edwards and Bishop King’s Fulham Charity

    Dr Edwards and Bishop King’s Fulham Charity is a local charity which has worked since 1618 to relieve poverty in the old London borough of Fulham.

    The affluence of many Fulham Wards often masks areas of poverty. As demand has increased for our services, with ever more complex issues, we have sought to increase our Assessor team. Dr Edwards and Bishop King’s grant has enabled us to increase our Assessor capacity to support the increasing numbers of Fulham residents needing help with debt, welfare benefits, housing and employment issues. Our Assessors are the first point of contact for people accessing our services, whether by face to face walk sessions at our site in Fulham, our Adviceline or Digital platforms.

    Energy Advice Programme

    The Energy Advice Programme is a seasonal project funded by National Citizens Advice. It provides advice appointments to consumers who are struggling to pay their fuel bills, require better deals on energy, need guidance on the most appropriate payment methods or information on how to access help from energy suppliers and the Government.​

    Help Through Hardship

    The national Citizens Advice Service is funded by The Trussell Trust to provide a freephone helpline ​for people who cannot afford food to help them get an e-voucher for a local food parcel. It also provides information and advice on the issues that are causing​ financial hardship​. CAHF provides a team of advisers who work on the national helpline to handle incoming calls nationwide. Our advisers help clients access food bank vouchers and provide information and advice on the issue they are facing.​​ If casework is required, we signpost them to their local Citizens Advice office.

    Foodbank

    The Hammersmith & Fulham foodbanks provide short-term, emergency food to individuals and families in crisis.  The purpose of our foodbank advice project is to try to resolve the problems that caused foodbank dependency. We provide welfare advice and assistance on a variety of issues such as benefits, housing and homelessness and debt. Clients self-refer themselves to us though the Foodbank network. Our Foodbank advice is funded through our LBHF grant.

    City Bridge Outreach

    City Bridge is one of the biggest funders in London and have funded us for three years for an outreach advice project.  We work closely with our partner organisations to support those ‘hard-to-reach’ clients who need us most but have not always accessed our service.

    This project is open to clients referred by the following partner organisations:

    West London Welcome
    Upper Room
    Barons Court Project
    Smart Works
    St Andrews Church (Saturday homeless project)
    Mind
    Look Ahead
    River House
    DAWS / Turning Point
    St. Mungo’s
    Hestia
    Nourish Hub
    Alcohol Service (CGL)​

    Affordability

    Affordability works in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham Council to help tenants repay their housing debt in an affordable way.

    This is achieved by:

    Advising tenants on their housing and welfare benefit rights
    Negotiating with their creditors and help creating repayment plans
    Looking at ways to maximise their income and minimise their expenditure
    Advising about budgeting and managing their finances better
    Identifying sources of financial help that are available to them.

    Young Lives vs Cancer

    Young Lives vs Cancer is the national children’s cancer charity.  It supports children and young people aged 0-25 diagnosed with cancer, and their families. We have a contract with YLVC to advise their social workers and service users on the full range of topics covered by Citizens Advice according to their advice needs, excepting immigration.  This is mostly concentrated on benefits advice, as cancer in the family almost immediately places families under financial stress when time has to be taken off work to care for a child or young person during treatment.   Many families have to claim benefits for the first time and have no knowledge or prior experience of the benefits system, unlike most Citizens Advice clients. Issues can also arise with employment as a result of the need to take time off work, and with debt as a result of reduced income.  The YVLC advice line aims to assist families with any of their advice needs in respect of any ‘social welfare law’ issue.