Grants worth nearly a quarter of a million pounds have been awarded to five expert organisations as part of the Trust’s Advice for Health priority. These funded partners will help people experiencing financial and social disadvantage, marginalisation and discrimination to reduce their overwhelm enough to be able to access sensitive and tailored advice and support. Funded partners will also work with advice services to ensure they are more accessible for people who need it most, including people who have English as a second/other language, those experiencing trauma, people with mental health problems, and people with learning disabilities.
Despite a 20% annual increase response from organisations providing advice, many people are not receiving the advice they need when they need it most. People may need to access advice on a range of areas that impact their life including employment, income, health, disability, housing, asylum, immigration and debt. Some people are not seeking or able to access advice because they feel overwhelmed by the challenges they are facing in their lives, such as insecure income, poor health or cultural or language barriers. This can also be due to a mistrust of services or digital exclusion
Not accessing advice can have a serious impact on their physical and mental health. Getting support can reduce anxiety and longer-term stress, and improve health.
The organisations funded through Advice for Health are working in Bolsover, Huntington, Luton, Norwich, Lincoln and Great Yarmouth. Activities include provide wellbeing-oriented support, working with multi-lingual community connectors and providing trauma-informed therapeutic services.
One of our funded partners, One Stop Advice and Training Centre, supports women from South Asian communities in Luton to remove barriers and stigma from accessing essential services they are entitled to. Azra Jan, project leader at One Stop, said:
“Mental health is a big issue preventing women we see from accessing services. So are language barriers and lack of cultural sensitivity. We are making sure that women are in a better financial position and are happy mentally and physically.”
People’s Health Trust Chief Executive John Hume said:
“When people are facing problems and difficulties, it is hard to reach out for support. However, when you are overwhelmed by those problems, it can become impossible to know where to start. Due to the cost of living crisis and many other factors, we know that many people are feeling overwhelmed and that their health is suffering. This programme will show how dealing with overwhelm as a first step to getting advice has the ability to improve stress and mental health. The funded partners on this programme have all be chosen for their expertise and compassion and we look forward to seeing how this programme can impact the way advice is offered.”
The work of Advice for Health projects complements our other priorities within the Health Justice Fund, which are also addressing the causes of poor health. Find out more about all of our priorities here.
Look out for more information about the five Advice for Health projects we are funding on social media and on our website.