WLM Annual Report 2015-2016

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12 2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT WEST LONDON MISSION, SOCIAL WORK Tackling financial challenges and food poverty MONEY CHAMPIONS Money Champions train local people to talk to others about money, encourage them to get help with problems and direct them to local money advice services. By August 2016 we had trained 333 local champions from some of the borough’s most deprived communities. Sam Bedford Manager, St Luke’s Hub ST LUKE’S HUB St Luke’s Hub focusses on digital and financial inclusion and hosts a range of projects and classes that help develop and empower the local community, from employment support programmes to parenting classes. We work with a range of different partners and organisations and support local residents to get involved and establish their own activities. FOOD POVERTY PROJECT Our Food Poverty project has two key objectives: to coordinate practical and strategic responses to food poverty across Lambeth and to combat ‘Holiday Hunger’ amongst its children. Our Healthy Holidays scheme offers grants to Lambeth community groups to run free, healthy food projects during the main school holidays. In 2015/16 the Healthy Holidays scheme enabled: 7606 997 251 2.3 nutritious meals to be provided different young people to engage in the projects parents or carers actively engaged in the process tonnes of surplus food diverted from landfill A Case Study... One of our sessions in August was attended by a particularly vulnerable couple struggling with serious debts and facing eviction from their home due to rent arrears. Their problems had become so complicated that they were scared to think about them or do anything about them. Their support worker who was also a Money Champion, recommended the course to them, saying it was the only thing she could think of that might help them to face their situation, start taking action and access the advice that they needed. The couple came to the training and engaged really well. They were very open and constructive in sharing their knowledge and experiences, providing valuable advice to others on how to avoid similar difficulties themselves. After the training, their support worker called us to say that for the first time, the couple had felt confident and motivated to start addressing their problems. They went to Brixton Advice Centre the very next day to get advice, which led to the eviction being suspended. They also called Lambeth Council Tax department and agreed an affordable repayment plan. They have since attended further events and workshops at St Luke’s Hub and have been extremely grateful for the support received.
13 Providing affordable counselling Adrian Scott Service Manager, HCC Dr Kalli Nikolopoulou Clinical Coordinator Highbury Counselling Centre offers affordable and high quality counselling and psychotherapy services to adults in the local community. Our service continues to grow and expand as we reach out to more people than before, who would otherwise not be able to access longer term therapy. Our counselling service is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and all our counsellors abide by the BACP Ethical Framework. We have been very grateful for the commitment and expertise of Marie Calvo, who as Coordinator did a wonderful job of overseeing HCC’s work. The increased income that was achieved meant that we were able to consider investing further in the staffing structure. So, following a review with external expertise, we re-structured the team into three roles: a Manager, a Clinical Coordinator and an Administrator. We also completed building renovations that will enable us to use our large group room for training sessions and therapeutic groups. “The service overall was great. I would highly recommend HCC to anyone. Thank you for helping me through a tough time” “Thank you for the support that I got throughout the last year. I feel like I have really benefitted from these sessions” “I had a great experience and support. I am very grateful you have concession arrangements for those unable to pay the full fee” Comments received from clients in the past year
Page 1 and 2: FOCUS ON THE FRONTLINE 2015/16 ANNU
Page 3 and 4: 03 Our Mission West London Mission
Page 5 and 6: 05 Highlights of the year 2015/16 O
Page 7 and 8: Jamie Hickling Service Manager, Big
Page 9 and 10: 09 2015/16 marked the 6th season of
Page 11: 11 Men leaving prison Katherine Pri
Page 15 and 16: 15 Thanks to... 29th May 1961 Chari

WLM Annual Report 2015-2016

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