Housing
Norcare is a Charity and Company Limited by guarantee providing a range of support services and accommodation for people aged 16 and over who are currently socially and economically excluded. Norcare’s core purpose is the delivery of housing support which enables vulnerable people to live independently. Norcare delivers services to:young homeless people; ex-offenders or those at risk of offending; people who misuse drugs or alcohol; people who experience mental illness; women and families fleeing violence.
Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) is an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) responsible for managing council homes on behalf of Newcastle City Council. YHN was set up in 2004 to manage council properties, to improve housing in order to meet the Government’s Decent Homes standard, and to provide a range of support services for Newcastle City Council.
Social Exclusion
Depaul UK is a national service working together with local communities towards the prevention of youth homelessness and aims to help young homeless. Local contact north.east@depaulcharity.org.uk 0191 253 6161.
LEAPS (Listening Ear and Positive Support)
Regional Refugee Forum North East
The Regional Refugee Forum North East is a membership organisation open to all refugee-led community organisations in the region. It is a unique model of collective strategic action aimed at promoting the integration of refugees in the region. It brings together the North East region’s diverse refugee-led community organisations (RCOs) into a unifying structure with the specific aim of producing their collective voice and using it to inform the development of evidence based policy and practice around integration. It also provides a customised package of development and capacity building support to RCOs to support the vital role they play in providing unique support services for their communities.
Benefits
Benefits Sanctions
If you are claiming benefits and feel you are at risk of, or are experiencing a sanction, the websites below have information on how to help:
Advice Now: A survival guide to benefits sanctions: https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/survival-guide-benefit-sanctions:
Money Advice Service: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/benefit-sanctions-and-what-to-do-about-them
Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/resources-and-tools/search-navigation-tools/Search/?q=benefit+sanction&c=TOP-PUBLIC
Benefits and Work was launched in 2002 (and became a limited company in October 2006) by advice worker turned barrister Holiday Whitehead and benefits writer and trainer Steve Donnison, to provide independent and accurate information about how to claim and keep benefits.
Citizens Advice Bureau Advice Guide ‘Benefits’
Information on benefits and tax credits for different groups of people including: unemployed, sick or disabled people; help with council tax and housing costs; national insurance; payment of benefits; problems with benefits.
This guide is written for you if you get benefits because a health condition or disability makes it difficult to work but you would like to work part-time. You can use it to work out what you can earn before the ‘benefits trap’ affects you.
Debt
Newcastle Citizen’s Advice Bureau
The Newcastle Citizen’s Advice Bureau provides free, independent and confidential advice on a huge range of issues including debt, benefits, housing, employment, consumer issues, relationships, family matters, health, education, discrimination, immigration and the law.
The Money Advice Service provides advice and information online, over the phone and face to face. The service provides tailored money advice to help you make choices throughout your life, whatever your circumstances. Its vision is to enhance people’s lives because they take control of their money as a matter of course.
A free helpline providing confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems. National Debtline offers debt advice for people living in different parts of the country. You can be confident that the advice offered is targeted to you. If you have any debt problems call National Debtline free on: 0808 808 4000. Monday – Friday 9.00 am – 9.00 pm; Saturday 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Disability
Disability Rights UK has been formed through a unification of Disability Alliance, Radar and National Centre for Independent Living on 1 January 2012. They aim to be the largest national pan-disability organisation led by disabled people. Disability Rights UK’s vision is of a society where everyone with lived experience of disability or health conditions can participate equally as full citizens.
Employment
Business Disability Forum is a not-for-profit member organisation that makes it easier and more rewarding to do business with and employ disabled people. The Forum builds disability-smart organisations to improve business performance by increasing confidence, accessibility, productivity and profitability. The Forum does this by bringing together business people, disabled opinion leaders and government to understand what needs to change if disabled people are to be treated fairly so that they can contribute to business success, to society and to economic growth.
Key Enterprises: North East of England
Key Enterprises is a charity providing support, training and development opportunities for people with mental health problems. The North East of England Key Enterprises centre is made up of 2 factory units with 10 different departments where participants can learn a wide range of work and social skills in a supportive environment that gives participants direct experience and confidence in the open workplace.
The Centre for Mental Health works to improve the quality of life for people with mental health problems by influencing policy and practice in mental health and related services. It focuses on criminal justice and employment, with supporting work on broader mental health and public policy.
A National Charity with over 25 years experience of providing training and work opportunities for people who are disadvantaged in the labour market due to disability or ill health. Support with personal development and employment . Shaw Trust supports public sector organisations to modernise and deliver effective social care services and helps businesses to recruit and manage a diverse workforce.
Disclaimer
AIM does not endorse or recommend any of the agencies listed on its web site but merely aims to inform you of the possible services available. AIM cannot take any responsibility for the organisations, the individuals involved or their web site contents. AIM does not endorse any commercial product or service advertised on an agency’s web site. If you are concerned about your health, consult your GP in the first instance; web sites are no substitute for advice from a health professional. Please take care when browsing web sites; we hope you find what you are looking for!
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