Projects & Partnerships 18 February 2023

Reaching further with cost of living support - borough based and London partnerships

Right across London - in response to all of the rising cost of living demands in the Capital - local Citizens Advice are finding innovative ways to outreach into the community, partnering with and supporting community groups, other advice agencies, and working co-productively their Borough Councils, often also engaging other key partners in the community (eg., NHS bodies, Schools etc). At the same time, our GLA Cost of Living partnership aims to support the capacity of the network across London, especially with outreach advice and capacity-building with community groups. 

Working together the London Citizens Advice network is greater than the sum of its parts, as charities embedded within local communities, local Citizens Advice services and projects are always tailored to the needs of the area and local residents, working alongside other local support agencies; there is no 'one size fits all' model for how our services are delivered and resources deployed locally - but at the same time the way we operate demonstrates common principles and approaches to engaging and working with London's diverse communities, and reaching out to those most adversly impacted by the cost of living crisis. Several local Citizens Advice have also worked with their borough Councils in helping to extend the Household Support Fund to those in need. 

Examples of different projects and approaches across London include:-

Citizens Advice Barking and Dagenham (CABD)

CABD been working with the Council to support a local Cost of Living Alliance. The Council have commissioned six local voluntary and community organisations to work in different parts of the borough, finding and helping residents with cost of living problems. Citizens Advice is leading a referrals process for households across the borough who need help, including a fast track to the council’s money hub. CABD are also provding training to Cost of Living Alliance partners and community groups; recent sessions delivered include 'Making every contact count' and 'Income Max - Cost of Living Essentials Training'. 

Citizens Advice Brent (CABr)

CABr network with other local advice organisation through Brent Advice Matters and Brent Hubs. 

Citizens Advice Bromley (CABrom)

CABrom partner with other organisations to deliver Bromley Well, a collaboration of local charities to support the health, wellbeing and independence of Bromley residents.

Citizens Advice Camden (CAC)

CAC work on several initiatives with the Council and the Camden Advice Network - a group of 12 Camden-based organisations which provide free and independent advice across a range topics; a key cost of living response was launching a “Cost of Living Advice Bus” - a mobile advice unit stopping across the borough over February/March include the Bourne Estate Community/Allen Hall (Feb.7th), Swiss Cottage Market (Feb 14th), Sidings Community Centre (Feb 21st), Kentish Town Community Centre (March 1st), Maiden Lane Community Centre (March 7th), and Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate (March 15th). 

Citizens Advice East End (CAEE) 

CAEE's community outreach work with schools was recently reported in the Guardian; CAEE cover three boroughs (Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham) and work with extensive community networks and partnerships across the three boroughs, such as Tower Hamlets Community Advice Network.

Citizens Advice Hammersmith and Fulham (CAHF)

"Warm hubs" are provided Avonmore Library (run by CAHF) and Charecroft Community Hall, including advice drop-ins on set days of the week. CAHF's Outreach Advice Project also works closely with local partner organisations and community to support those ‘hard-to-reach’ clients who need support but haven't always accessed Citizens Advice service; the project supports clients referred by the following partner organisations: West London Welcome, Upper Room, Barons Court Project, Smart Works, St Andrews Church (Saturday homeless project), Mind, Look Ahead, River House, DAWS / Turning Point, St. Mungo’s, Hestia, Alcohol Service (CGL). 

In addition CAHF deliver Financial Capability activities to groups across West London to help residents before they face money problems focusing on the skills and confidence to manage their money independently and make informed choices about financial products; training is delivered financial capability trainer volunteers to community groups, front line workers and occasionally at sessions open to the public.

Citizens Advice Hounslow (CAH)

CAH have been working with Hounslow borough’s Community Solutions team in supporting a series of "Cost of living marketplace roadshow" events across the borough offering residents access to guidance and support on everyday issues connected with the rising cost of living. In February (2023) CAH have also held "Advice First Training" working with Citizens Advice Wandsworth, to support CAH's outreaches and community partners, including the locally based Afghan and Central Asian Association, Bridgelink Community Centre and other partners.

Citizens Advice Haringey (CAHg)

CAHg lead the Haringey Advice Partnership (HAP); Citizens Advice community outreach in the borough includes providing Community Navigation Service Walk-in sessions, and Community Information and Guidance Sessions delivered at different community hubs across Haringey, and have organised a number of Advice Partnerships Roadshows. 

Citizens Advice Greenwich (CAG)

CAG have been working with partners to deliver a "Roaming Advice Hub" accross community centres, hubs and venues in the borough (eg., at Woolwich Clockhouse; Abbey Wood, Glyndon, and Coldharbour Community Centres and Greenwich West).

Citizens Advice Kingston (CAK)

CAK facilitate network of providers, the Kingston Information and Advice Alliance and have developed a cost of living toolkit

Citizens Advice Kensington and Chelsea (CAKC) 

CACK run advice sessions for Foodbank clients on set days based at Notting Hill Methodist Church, and also deliver advice and support at other community hubs such as Bay20 Community Centre.

Citizens Advice Lewisham (CAL)

CAL lead the Advice Lewisham partnership, and provide key support to other agencies including working with Southwark Law Centre to provide a Law Centre service in Lewisham. Over last autumn, CAL worked with Community Connections Lewisham, South East London Community Energy and South London Healthy Homes to support community events aimed at helping Lewisham residents understand what support is available through the Cost of Living Crisis this winter.

Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth (CAML)

CAML is now working in Merton Libraries, including drop-in, to provide advice and support for a range of Cost of Living issues and has suported Merton Council's cost of living events in the community; in Lambeth CAML opened a new co-located hub last year, and works with partners for example supporting Lambeth Togethers' Health & Wellbeing Bus and building on longstanding collaboration with Lambeth Living Well partners.

Citizens Advice Richmond (CAR)

CAR have taken part with Council online public Q&A to provide information on dealing with rising cost of living, alongside other partners such as Richmond AID and South West London Energy Advice Partnership.

Citizens Advice Southwark (CAS)

CAS has been holding regular Cost of Living roadshow events at community venues across the borough with Community Southwark partners; Southwark residents attending the roadshows receive supermarket vouchers and connect to a range of services. As well as several other networks such as Southwark Legal Advice Network and Advice Forum, a local Universal Credit Network and a Financial Inclusion Forum, the Southwark Private Renters Support Network has recently been set up by CAS in partnership with Southwark Law Centre.

Citizens Advice Sutton 

CA Sutton work with the Together for Sutton partnership, and have produced an extensive impact report on how the cost of living crisis is affecting local clients.

Citizens Advice Wandsworth (CAW)

CAW's Cost of Living project take referrals directly from the council’s Cost of Living Hub and a range of local community partners. The project team will work alongside CAW's core advice service, providing additional capacity  respond quickly and help residents facing immediate hardship due to financial issues. Building on their existing Help Through Hardship Crisis project and Advice First Aid training, CAW are working through the London Citizens Advice GLA partnership to develop and scale-up Advice First Aid across London, including working with other LCAs on how they can best replicate and adapt Advice First Aid for their local community partners.  

Citizens Advice Waltham Forest (CAWF)

CAWF has partnered with the Council to deliver part of the Household Support Fund. CAWF has also worked with the Council and a local fuel poverty charity HEET to deliver Cost of Living webinar for community groups.

Citizens Advice Westminster 

Citizens advice in Westminster working with other partners operates an "advice shop" through a mix of online, appointment and drop-in services at community hubs.