Citizen's Advice - Help Through Hardship Crisis

About the project

Citizens Advice Wandsworth is working in partnership with Wandsworth Community Empowerment Network on a four year project to help people in crisis take back control of their lives in Wandsworth. The project started in summer 2016 with funding from The Big Lottery Fund. We aim to support people in Wandsworth who face hardship and crisis and establish and strengthen the capacity of community networks to support them. We are working closely with community, social and faith networks and groups to provide tailored, community-based advice and advocacy for local people.

We are focusing on ensuring vulnerable people have access to advice and advocacy support, including older and isolated people, people with mental health issues, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, care needs, drug and alcohol issues and newly arrived migrant and refugee communities.

We are providing support to address the underlying causes of crisis through advice on issues such as employment, benefits, homelessness, debt, and health problems. We are training volunteers and staff from community and voluntary sector partners to provide ‘Advice First Aid’ and put people in need in touch with the support they need to improve their circumstances and we have advisers who can take referrals of people who need advice.

We are building a network of organisations as part of the project, involving a wide range of community, faith and statutory groups and services. To join the network, fill out the form on the website.