MORE THAN FOOD CASE STUDIES
Some case studies from our support agencies.
Please note client names have been changed to protect the privacy of our clients.
Big Issue - Feb 2020
Since moving to do our drop-ins at the Tollcross and Grassmarket food banks, it has been great to get to know people in the community and make them aware of The Big Issue. The clients are definitely more in line with the type of people we work with at The Big Issue, rather than families etc so it’s great to have access to this demographic.
In the past 6/7 weeks we had 3 referrals from the food bank. One of which came for his induction magazines and returned to buy magazines.
I returned to the Tollcross food bank yesterday after a Christmas break and managed to catch up with lots of people. One woman had been a vendor over Christmas for a brief period and then didn’t return so it was good to catch up and see how she is. The woman seems pretty vulnerable/chaotic so I don’t think now is a great time for her to be selling the magazine, however, I think it helped that she saw a familiar face at the food bank and felt more comfortable talking to me to do her referral.
There is a man who visits the food bank every week and I speak with him for a bit. He came to Big Issue in November and was inducted. He only sold his induction magazines and mentioned yesterday that it wasn’t for him. It was great that he gave it a try and is good to check in with him and let him know he’s welcome to come back if he wants.
I also spoke with two females who asked for a card and said they’ll be keen to give Big Issue a try. They both seemed interested just to gain some independence and some extra cash so if they don’t appear in our office, it would be good to check in with them at the food bank to see if there’s anything else we could support with or clear up any doubts.
I think the food bank drop in gives us a great opportunity to see people we wouldn’t normally and make people more aware of what we do, help clear up any doubts and let people know it’s an option there if they are interested. The Grassmarket food bank has also been great, we have had one person come and be inducted from there in the past month. I will be there next Tuesday so hopefully can catch up with more people then.
Salvation Army - FEB 2020
Lorraine Duncan – Salvation Army Employment Development Coordinator.
“I first engaged with Ms Jones and her brother who were attending the foodbank following a referral..
In the first instance I introduced myself and told them of the services The Salvation Army offered. We had a coffee and a chat while they waited on their food parcel, and they advised me that due to both having worked their whole lives, they had private pensions, meaning they were ineligible for income based benefits, and were struggling financially. We agreed I would meet them in their own home to discuss options moving forward, and how The Salvation Army could assist. It was established that both met the eligibility criteria to apply for social health benefits of Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance respectively. We completed these applications, and both are awaiting face to face assessments to identify whether or not they are able to access the financial support these benefits would provide. It was also identified that by not being on eligible benefits, there is an ongoing requirement for them to pay council tax, and that there are historical arrears within the household which they are unable to afford. Mr and Ms Jones have now also engaged with The Salvation Army’s Debt Advice Service, and their coordinator has now taken on the task of dealing with their creditors in a bid to reduce the household expenditure and release income to meet their daily living needs. We have also assisted in accessing Winter Fuel payments for the household. This is a typical case of two hard working individuals who in their later life are unable to survive on their current income. Had they not been prepared and diligent in ensuring they had pensions in place, they would have been able to access state benefits and the benefits attached to them (eg. Free dental care, housing support, and council tax relief), but now feel that they are being punished in the latter stages of their life. We are still awaiting decisions on benefits, however both Mr and Ms Jones are clearly relieved to be accessing support that they were unaware of, and are assured that everything is being done in their best interests and to alleviate the pressure they are under, with a view to improving their quality of life.”
Action Group - Sept 2019
The Action Group, who provide a drop in service at the Craigmillar foodbank centre, have been working with a women they met at the foodbank centre. She was long term unemployed, not claiming Benefits, only income was Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit payments. She had huge debt, mainly rent arrears of over £7,000 for council rent, not currently paying her rent while living with her young son in temporary homeless accommodation with an eviction notice from the council pending for this accommodation too.
She has low skills, no qualifications, anxiety and depression. Surviving through goodwill of friends and use of foodbank.
The Action Group:
- Made a referral to Welfare & Benefits team – Outreach service
- Got a letter for client to take to GP to request a FIT Note for her UC claim
- Booked an appointment for Clothing Bank for clothes for both her and her son
- Supported her to make an online claim for Universal Credit
- Supported her to make telephone call to complete claim and book her face to face appointments at the job centre.
- Completed a Bus Pass form and took a photograph to get a concessionary bus pass for her.
- Supported her to attend her Universal Credit job centre meetings.
- Requested letter to support client to open a basic bank acc
- Requested an Advance Payment of her Universal Credit
- Requested payment from for purchasing a Provisional driving licence for client as she has no form of photographic ID – required to register with a GP and to open a bank Acc.
- Supported her to apply for a provisional licence
- Researched Basic Bank accounts and ID requirements for client and supported her to gather sufficient ID.
- Supported her to register with GP and disclose current poor mental health. Fit Note for 28 days and MH support being arranged by GP.
- Supported her to attend Shelter Drop in and spoke to senior housing officer about her current situation. Shelter have taken on her case and will now support her with this.
- Supported client to meet with CEC officer regarding letter about intent to obtain a warrant of entry to her property due to non-payment of electricity bill – this is now being dealt with by CEC
- Supported client to visit and engage with a local agency for volunteering and confidence building. Bridgend Growing Communities – Bridgend Farmhouse
Client now has:
- an income
- a GP
- Mental Health support
- a bus pass,
- ID
- a bank account.
She is no longer hiding from anyone in authority and is, with support from specialist organisations, facing her housing and financial problems rather than ignoring them.
She is growing in confidence and self-esteem and The Action Group are exploring potential job choices for the future and courses or further voluntary experiences that could support her to achieve these choices
Y People - May 2019
Mr Smith presented to a foodbank due to having no funds to buy food. His benefits had stopped due to failing Employment and Support Allowance health assessment, he had been without income for four months. He has anger management issues due to cognitive impairment. This effects his ability to engage with services. Due to the welcoming environment of the foodbank support staff were able to engage with Mr Smith and talk him through help that was available to him. He has since been allocated a support worker from Ypeople who successfully assisted appeal the ESA decision. He is now non dependent on the foodbank and is focusing on accessing support to improve his health conditions.