Support and Connect. Project and outcome examples

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1 Support and Connect Project and outcome examples The aim of this document is to support you whilst you develop your application to Support and Connect. We assess applications against the following: o The proposed project outcomes meet an identified need and help achieve the Support and Connect outcomes. o The applicant organisation can manage the project well and achieve the proposed outcomes. We realise that evidencing need and formulating outcomes are new for many organisations. To help you with this, we have developed five case studies based on projects that were successfully funded under the first round of Support and Connect: Project example 1 - Action to address food poverty Project example 2 - Action to address fuel poverty Project example 3 Provision of household goods Project example 4 Advice for a specific client group Project example 5 Financial skills training and services We hope you find these examples helpful. If you have any questions about applying to Support and Connect please contact us at enquiries.scotland@biglotteryfund.org.uk or

2 PROJECT EXAMPLE 1 ACTION TO ADDRESS FOOD POVERTY Activity A community based development trust aims to set up a food and social support hub to provide free healthy food, host cookery classes and facilitate people and organisations, such as the local community health partnership, social work and education departments, Job Centre Plus and Citizens Advice Bureau, coming together. Costs included in the application Costs to increase hours of the existing project manager Salary costs for 2 new posts: one full time community food worker and one part time Information and administrative assistant Recruitment Costs Training costs Travel costs Marketing costs A contribution to overheads Need for project The development trust currently delivers some small scale cookery classes and draws on the demand for these and consultation with beneficiaries to highlight a local need for access to healthy food and support to cook on a budget. There is evidence of partnership working with a range of agencies, including the local third sector interface providing their training facility, a local mental health organisation and a network of 16 local churches/congregations. The development trust has piloted many of the interventions e.g. food growing and highlights how successful these activities were, in linking individuals onto other services or volunteering opportunities. The local CAB has advised there are no other foodbanks in the area. The development trust provided statistics on the impact welfare reform will is expected to have on the local area. Connections with other Organisations By using food and cookery as a `hook, the development trust and their partners will support beneficiaries to access other support organisations, to share information and advice and also 2

3 encourage peer to peer support through the making of social links and volunteer opportunities. 3

4 People experiencing hardship will have access to free and healthy food at the food and social support hubs and be better supported to access a range of local support services. Number of food and social hub events taking place at community locations with a range of partners in attendance. Numbers of people accessing free meals at the food and social support hubs. Numbers of volunteers who are recruited and trained to assist at food and social support hub events and encourage beneficiaries to access to other services. 60 events (4 other organisations at each event) people. 15 volunteers. More vulnerable individuals and families will have access to healthy food and a range of other support services to meet the various needs they face. People experiencing hardship will feel more confident and better equipped to cook healthy and nutritious food on very limited budgets. Number of people who participate at our cookery class. The proportion of people who are referred to our classes by frontline services. Number of people supported to access welfare and financial advice to maximise income. 60 classes with 600 people in attendance. 25% of people attending are referred by frontline agencies. 100 people referred to CAB. More vulnerable individuals and families will have skills and knowledge to maximise their income and feed their family healthily on a budget. 4

5 PROJECT EXAMPLE 2 ACTION TO ADDRESS FUEL POVERTY Activity A local authority aims to expand their energy advice and advocacy services for those struggling with fuel poverty in their area. The project will take a partnership approach with a range of agencies to help them make better use of services and support. Costs included in the Application Increased hours for a project co-ordinator Project administrator 4 x Home Energy Advocates Recruitment costs Travel expenses Overhead costs Need for project The local authority is one of the most disadvantaged areas in Scotland. Statistics from the Scottish Housing Condition Survey in 2012 showed 28% of households in the local authority area were living in fuel poverty which was higher than the national average. Statistics highlight that there are 3 specific areas in the local authority which will be worst hit as a result of rising fuel prices and welfare reform. Feedback from local organisations highlights the levels of demand and the gap that exists for the planned expansion. Demand for the current service is double what the workers have capacity to support. Connections with other Organisations The organisation plans to improve its referral systems to ensure those most in need are supported. Formal partnerships with a local starter pack organisation and housing associations will be developed to ensure individuals immediate needs are met and that they are assisted to make longer term changes. 5

6 More disadvantaged people will have access to advice and support to address fuel poverty. Number of client referrals to wider agencies, eg. welfare rights and starter pack services. Number of clients engaged through home visits or community events; to provide household energy checks and identify wiser needs. Number of people assisted in lowering energy bills by implementing various measures suggested by home energy advocate. 3,000 households referred to and access other services. 6,000 households to be targeted. 4,000 households assisted to reduce energy costs. Individuals will appropriate access to advice and guidance to support them in reducing fuel poverty. More disadvantaged people have the skills and services to make better informed choices about their energy needs. Number of people accessing suitable financial services to manage their energy needs better. Number of people attending financial capability training. 500 people. 100 people. Number of people trained as Energy Champions. 25 people. Individuals will have increase ability to manage their finances and be responsible for their budgets. More disadvantaged people provided with support to reduce the affects of low income, fuel debt and fuel poverty. 6

7 Cumulative amount of fuel debt reduced. 700,000 fuel debt negotiated. Cumulative income maximisation by project. 100,000 increased entitlements. Number of people moving out of fuel poverty 4,000 clients assisted Individuals will see saving in their fuel bills and be moving out of fuel poverty. PROJECT EXAMPLE 3 PROVISION OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS Activity A local church based organisation that supports those who have been homeless settle into new tenancies aims to increase their current starter packs provision into two new areas, introduce store cupboard food packs and develop a re-use service providing cookers and carpets to new tenants. The organisation will develop formal referral partnerships with a range of local agencies and organisations, including housing associations, Citizens Advice Bureau, local women s aid and mental health and homelessness organisations, and support beneficiaries to access them. Costs included in the Application Contribution to an increase in manager and volunteer coordinator posts. Contribution to travel and expenses. Contribution to accommodation and utilities. Contribution to marketing and communications. Proportion of overheads. Need for project Current demand for the service is 4 times more than the organisation can provide. Feedback from local organisations highlights the levels of demand and the gap that exists for the planned expansion. Feedback from service users has highlighted a need for food packs and essential household goods as well as additional services such as cookery classes. A pilot of the re-use service has been delivered and learning from this has been used to develop the bid. The organisation has highlighted the project's alignment with the local authority homelessness, volunteering and waste prevention strategies. Connections with other Organisations 7

8 The organisation will develop more formal referral partnerships with a range of organisations that will refer to the project and project workers will identify those who require additional support and will refer onwards. Where required, vulnerable individuals will be supported and encouraged to access the appropriate services. New tenants will have access to Starter Packs of essential household goods. Starter packs introduced to two new areas. 300 households in these areas provided with packs. Starter packs output increased. 40% increase (11,200 packs per year). Annually Individuals will have responsive access to materials goods they require. More people will access services that will help improve their diet. Food packs will be introduced and distributed to new tenants. New tenants will be offered appliances to cook with. Tenants ability to cook on a budget improved. 1,200 new households. 300 households provided with an electric cooker. (cooking classes/access to allotment offered to 72 new tenants) Individuals will have responsive access to food and have improved ability to cook on a budget. Tenants will gain support to identify financial support (for new goods) and receive financial advice. 8

9 More people will have access to services that provide financial advice. New tenants will have improved understanding and support to access advice on statutory and charitable funding sources. New tenants will be referred onto other organisation including local women s aid, mental health and homelessness organisations. 72 people 300 people attend an advice surgery. 150 people. Individuals will have improved access to services which can support their needs. PROJECT EXAMPLE 4 ADVICE FOR A SPECIFIC CLIENT GROUP Activity A national organisation supporting deaf and deafblind people aims to provide a dedicated welfare benefit and financial advocacy service to support those experiencing hardship due to welfare reforms and who need specialist support to enable equal access to mainstream services. The project will support beneficiaries in two local authority areas. Costs included in the Application Salary costs for one dedicated welfare advocacy worker. Recruitment Costs Volunteer training and expenses Travel costs Administration costs Proportion of overheads Need for project Focus groups held with 50 people identified a specific gap for an advocacy service to help them access appropriate specialist services and provide communication support in relation to welfare changes. Demand for the organisation s services has seen a 500% increase in benefit and debt and money advice queries. The organisation highlights that 100% of deaf and deafblind people will require support to use the new online benefits system. 9

10 Local organisations including the CAB and housing associations identify a gap for a service supporting and linking up deaf and deafblind people to support services. Connections with other Organisations In one local authority, the organisation currently has existing relationships and cross-referral routes with specialist training and support agencies including the local authority employment support unit, welfare rights and social work departments, the local Citizens Advice Bureau and other voluntary organisations. It will strengthen these connections and establish five new cross-referral routes with similar organisations within the second local authority area. Deaf and deafblind people will have access to advocacy support on welfare, debt, and finance issues. More deaf and deafblind people accessing advocacy support. New volunteer advocates are recruited, trained and deployed. 100 new users. 10 new volunteers. Number of outreach services developed. 14 drop-in services. By end of project Through the project deaf and deafblind people in need will be better connected to support services. Deaf and deafblind people needing specialist welfare and financial/debt advice will have equal access and full information. Appropriate communication support and full information on charities offering welfare advice/financial/debt advice/training/food support. Clients accessing statutory/benefits agencies have appropriate communication support and full information. 4 hours support per week. 300 instances of advocated access to statutory/benefits services. 10

11 Number of outreach services developed. 14 drop-in services. By end of project Through the project deaf and deafblind people in need will be better connected to support services. PROJECT EXAMPLE 5 FINANCIAL SKILLS TRAINING AND SERVICES PROJECT Activity A housing association aims to lead a partnership approach with the local CAB, credit union and local authority community learning team to support those on fixed and vulnerable incomes to have improved financial inclusion and linkages with relevant support agencies. Costs included in the Application Salary costs for a financial inclusion worker Recruitment Costs Venue costs Travel costs Marketing costs Need for project The project will service a deprived community and consultation with 250 local people highlighted: 84% people found it difficult to budget and 56% have no home based internet access. 11

12 The housing association has delivered a financial inclusion service for 5 years and this is at capacity. Statistics demonstrate excess demand which the housing association cannot meet. A pilot partnership service has been delivered and evaluation and learning from this has been used to develop the bid. The housing association demonstrate strong linkages with local organisations and highlight a gap exists through letters of support from various agencies and organisations including the local CAB. Connections with other Organisations The housing association is well networked and is part of the local financial inclusion network. This project is a partnership bid with the local CAB, credit union and local authority learning team and onward referrals will be made to Job Centre Plus and other local employment support organisations. People have better access to welfare benefit advice and support. People receive money advice. 160 people. People receive benefit advice. 225 people. People are referred to further services. 50 people. By end of project Individuals with no or low incomes will have appropriate access to the correct benefits and be engaged with a range of services to support their needs. People are better able to manage their finances. 12

13 More people will access support through the introduction of Universal Credit. More people will have access to affordable credit reducing high cost loans. More people will have access to credit union savings accounts 150 people. 150 people. 180 people. By end of project Individuals with no or low incomes will have appropriate access to affordable products. People have better digital access and will have support to make good use of online access. More people will access IT training. 180 people. Develop referral partnerships with agencies 3 agencies. More people will have supported digital access hours of supported access By end of project Individuals with no or low incomes will have appropriate IT skills to access the new welfare system. 13