We are delighted to announce that our work with the Rotherhithe & Bermondsey community during this cost-of-living crisis has been recognised with a Community Southwark Southwark Stars 2023 award!
Time & Talents has been very actively supporting residents with the cost-of-living crisis since last summer when energy and fuel costs started to skyrocket.
In response to the summer spike in inflation and consumer costs, we worked in partnership with Southwark Council and other community organisations to encourage more take-up of Pension Credit. We created accessible information about Pension Credit, how to apply, and the supporting benefits that are available, as Pension Credit acts as a ‘gatekeeper’ for benefits such as reductions in Council tax, free TV license (for over-75s), and free NHS prescriptions, glasses and reduced dental costs, as well as opening the door to many discretionary grants.
To further encourage Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance uptake, we also upskilled our Befriending Volunteers to begin conversations with the housebound older adults they support, which resulted in 47 people having a one-to-one conversation about what benefits are out there and how to apply.
Our partnership with Southwark Libraries has also enabled us to provide a regular Friday afternoon drop-in in which residents can be supported to use the Government’s benefits eligibility checker online, ensuring people are claiming all the help that they are entitled to.
Throughout the winter, With support from United St. Saviour’s Charity we and ASDA Foundation, we provided two ‘Warm Space session in our ‘T&T2’venue in the heart of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, These were an open invitation to enjoy a hot drink, free meal and friendship. We also provided scarves, hats and/or slipper socks to older people as well as “Warm Packs” to housebound people in partnership with Age UK Lewisham and Southwark.
Time & Talents CEO Sarah Gibb said, “I am extremely proud to see the hard work and dedication of the T&T team recognised with a Southwark Stars award. They really went above and beyond in referring more than 2,000 residents for Cost-of-Living Fund grants. This resulted in over £155,000 getting to local households – almost 20% of the Council’s total community grant referrals.”
