Vulnerable People and Social Inclusion

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Vulnerable People and Social Inclusion

• GCC Briefing
• 10th September 2015

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• Provide of legal advice on
• immigration (limited immigration advice on bail
  and Leave to Remain as a result of domestic
  violence (ONLY )
• Asylum
• Welfare Benefits
• Housing
• Family Law
• Provide representation at Court hearings
• Between 1.4.14 - 31.3.15, brought in
  1,457,676.68 for local clients benefits that
  people were legally entitled to but for whom
  there had been barriers.
• In same period helped 2288 clients with 2294
  cases.
• and helped people from 142 different
  nationalities in Gloucester
• 8 paid staff, some of whom are part time and up
  to 10 volunteers

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• Provision of Services Cont
• Provide level 1 advice and asylum work
• A homeless family would cost 40k to rehouse
  saving to Council by getting possession action
  and correct benefits resolved.
• Work with the Law Centre good relationship
  on housing and benefits

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• Working with about 2000 individuals per/annum
• Currently largely coming from Syria, Eretria,
  Afghanistan, Sudan and China
• 17 volunteers 7 trustees 7 staff, of whom 3
  are full time. Also hosting the Hate crime worker
  on behalf of the PCC
• Work with women with severe multiple disadvantage
  and complex needs such as
• Substance misuse
• Mental ill health
• Financial needs
• Domestic violence
• Chronic poverty
• Risk of homelessness
• Getting 5 new referrals a week.
• Have 2 key workers, who carry a caseload of 30.
  Complex issues such as suicide risk, self harm,
  children. This is a trauma informed service

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• How can the Voluntary Sector Help the council?
• A service map associated with common issues
  would be helpful for everyone to have
• The voluntary sector must act as a business in
  terms of strong governance, business planning and
  budgeting it should be respected as
  professional and competent but also with
  appreciation that VCS organisations also have to
  work to strict reporting and budgeting time
  frames or will close.
• Therefore relationship with the Councils
  especially where funding support is involved
  must recognise these timeframes and act promptly
  with admin, grant processing and clear
  monitoring.

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• How could the City Council help?
• In-kind support for financial leverage from grant
  funders
• Letters of support from the Council
• Having well informed Councillors would be really
  helpful re key vulnerability issues.
• Councils City Plan needs to highlight some of
  the key vulnerability issues organisations can
  then evidence to potential funders how their work
  addresses recognised local problems

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• Concerns
• Legal Aid no longer covers any immigration
  work, social exclusion issue, this is new.
• Another big issue In order for someone to
  secure residency status, they must pass exams and
  demonstrate their competency in English
• this requires completion of a certificated
  ESOL course. The course has been provided by
  Gloucester College but from September, this ESOL
  course will have to be paid for by the learner,
  at a cost of 750. There are various adult
  education and community ESOL type courses but
  not certificated

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• Finally
• If you are socially excluded, you are likely to
  be financially excluded