Impact data and claims within this report are provided by the project creator and have not been independently verified by Spacehive.
By Chiltern Citizens Advice Bureau
Our Home Advice service reduces the isolation of those over 65 in Chiltern. We review benefit entitlements, utility bills and provide information on social groups.
Several areas in Chiltern have the highest risk of loneliness for people over 65 in Buckinghamshire. Our Home Advice service addresses the isolation and wellbeing of older people. Since 2018, we have visited 110 clients; maximised their incomes by reviewing benefits and bills and provided information on social groups. To date we have achieved an average of £2,232 in extra income per client. However, more older people, like Gladys, need our help… Aged 90, Gladys lived alone. Her bedroom was damp and she struggled to move around. She received her state pension, a small amount of housing benefit and council tax reduction. We applied for pension credit to top up her income and attendance allowance to pay for care needs at home such as hand rails. Gladys was entitled to money off heating bills with the warm home discount and we referred her to the affordable warmth scheme which meant a tradesperson would fix the damp. In total, financial support of £6,400 and peace of mind for Gladys.
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
No one relishes the thought of getting older. But our Home Advice service can make life more comfortable. With additional income and support, older people can feel more in control of their lives and re-gain a sense of belonging in the community which can reduce anxiety and improve their wellbeing. Home visits are vital as many older people cannot travel to our offices or outreach locations. At home, our qualified adviser, Max can review their care needs and can make referrals to other organisations such as GPs, Connection Support, Paradigm Housing and Age UK if there are safety concerns. Aside from maximising income and advising on social events, Max can also provide practical support such as completing the application form for a Blue Badge. Mrs C in Chesham said “Max has made a remarkable difference to my finances. He highlighted my crucial needs, some of which I didn’t know I could claim for. I’ve recommended him to my social group and others. He will bring results.”
Steps to get it done:
Journey
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How will the money be spent?Total £5,505
Costs Breakdown
This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.
Overfunding
This project is enabled for overfunding. If the project hits its funding goal before the end of the campaign period, any extra funds raised will be spent (in order of priority) on:
Total £5,505
Our Volunteer List
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VolunteerCitizens Advice Chiltern provides free, impartial, independent and confidential advice to anyone living and working in the Chiltern area. Our aims are to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives.
Our 42 trained volunteer advisers support clients with issues such as debt and benefits, housing, employment and relationships. Our clients are often the most vulnerable: disabled people, single parents, people who are unemployed or in low paid work.
We value diversity, champion equality and challenge discrimination and harassment.
Project Owner: Chiltern Citizens Advice Bureau The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
