Conference Focuses Ways Organisations And Individuals Can Help Those Less Well Off

Published on: 19 Sep, 2015
Updated on: 22 Sep, 2015

Organisations and individuals who work and help people on low incomes came together for a conference that focused on poverty within the borough of Guildford.

With the topic of the Government’s welfare reform and the introduction of Universal Credit as the new system for those claiming benefits being the main focus, see separate story, there was a good deal of information given by advice, support and voluntary organisations.

Haydn Morris of Catalyst holds a new free leaflet produced by Guildford Advice Services that lists details of lots of local advice organisations and agencies.

Enhancing Practice, Understanding Poverty: A Guildford Perspective, was hosted by Guildford Advice Services.  It took place on Friday, September 18, at St Saviour’s Church in Guildford,

The Mayor of Guildford, Nikki Nelson-Smith, made a welcome speech and Haydn Morris of Catalyst introduced the day by saying that [in the UK] 23% of benefits are not taken up, 50% of jobseekers allowances are not claimed nor are 80% of housing benefits.

He asked why and said there are a number of reasons: stigma, people do not want to be labelled in poverty or are regarded as scroungers, the process of claiming can be complicated and many do not know they are eligible for benefits.

“Systems are designed,” Haydn said, “but people make systems work. This conference will help people to network and I know a lot of agencies are represented here today.”

They included the Diocese of Guildford, Guildford Borough Council, Homestart, Surrey Law Centre, Furniturelink Guildford, Guildford Citizens Advice, Surrey County Council, North Guildford Foodbank, Voluntary Action South West Surrey, Age UK Surrey and Catalyst, plus representatives from local churches and community groups.

Denise Graves (standing) and Jess Hogan-Smith of Voluntary Action South West Surrey.

A talk titled Understanding Those We Support was given by Jess Hogan-Smith of Voluntary Action South West Surrey. She outlined details within the Equal Opportunities Act 2010. The volunteer bureau and services it offers tries hard to continually learn and to keep its training and awareness up to date in terms of issues that affect people, whether it’s because of their health, their income or family circumstances.

Denise Graves, also of Voluntary Action South West Surrey, spoke about her role with its Welcome to Volunteering project, that assists people aged 18 to 65 who need help to get into volunteering. She emphasised the need to always have good listening skills when working with clients.

In her talk, the manager of Guildford Citizens Advice, Joan O’Byrne, urged people to be at the top of their game when helping people who are not on top of their finances, especially when their circumstances have changed.

She said the Guildford bureau is helping people, but said many of the clients they see have difficulties understanding the digital world. She said: “The information that have to record must be up to date and some get confused.”

Jo Cookes and Nicola Bassani of the Diocese of Guildford’s communities engagement team.

Jo Cookes and Nicola Bassani of the Diocese of Guildford’s community engagement team focused on signposting in their talk. The spoke about the need to tell people what support is available locally and where to find it and what opportunities are available.

They also stressed the importance of talking and listening to people and not taking them at face value. An example they gave was from their team’s Community Connectors scheme. A person may ask for them to help with their shopping. But simply talking to them further much more can be found about their needs and hopefully extra help can be given. This may include setting up a care package, or if they say they are lonely some company and support can be arranged.

Nicola gave examples of services delegates can use to find information and then signpost where necessary. These included Surrey Information Point, Voluntary Action South West Surrey, Guildford Hub, Adult Social Care, and Guildford Borough Council’s community wardens.

She added that local points of contact include churches, community centres, notice boards and Guildford Advice Services. 

Joan O’Byrne, manager of Guildford Citizens Advice.

Joan O’Byrne spoke again, this time about Citizens Advice Bureau’s national website that can accessed by all and which contains lots of useful advice and information. She said it can be very useful for delegates in their work and it contains much information on people’s rights, benefits, tax, and so on.

With a wi fi link to the website being shown on the large display screen, Joan gave examples of how easy it is to access and use. She added that factsheets can be downloaded and it also has links to other websites such as HM Revenue & Customs, or how to contact your local advice bureau direct.

From left: John O’Byrne and Hadyn Morris with Sally Taylorson of Guildford Advice Services who was the main organiser of the conference. Well done to them all!

For more details about Guildford Advice Services (GAS), its partners and network organisations, you can access a wealth of information via The Guildford Dragon NEWS. Click on the tab under the main page heading named Get Advice in Guildford. All the news stories we feature about GAS and its associates are archived in a tab What’s New that can be found by placing your computer mouse, or finger on a smartphone or tablet, over Get Advice in Guildford.

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