During the summer Citizens Advice Broxtowe ran a programme of Days of Action to help people struggling with the cost-of-living. We are now planning to run more events over the winter months lasting until March 2024. There will be one event each month and each one will have a theme, more details below. These events are in addition to our existing services. If you are struggling with the cost-of-living don’t wait contact us now.
They will be held across the borough offering residents personalised one-to-one appointments with a member of our team. This project is part funded by Broxtowe Borough Council’s Shared Prosperity Fund Plan.
The events and appointments are designed to:
- Make sure everyone struggling with the cost-of-living is able to get help.
- Reach out to people that use community organisations but might not know what additional help is available to them.
- Achieve measurable reductions in poverty and improvements in financial well-being.
- Generate referrals to our Financial Resilience Broxtowe* project.
*Financial Resilience Broxtowe is a project designed to work proactively with people and households who find it difficult to manage financially. It works with them to create a long-term plan towards financial resilience. This includes:
- Increasing income
- Reduced spending and ability to budget
- Building a safety net and protecting assets
For an appointment at a Day of Action call: 0115 917 3801
Days of Action – 30th November 2023
A cost-of-living disability event was held 30th November 2023 to support people facing long-term health problems whom we know are more likely to struggle to budget.
As part of our ‘Day of Action’ programme we attended the Disability/Health Event held at Stapleford Community Centre (Cliff Hill). People approached our stall for information and some have taken up the offer of follow-up appointments at on of our local offices. Thank you to the organisers of the event for asking us along.
On the same day our offices at Beeston, Stapleford and Eastwood were dedicated to assisting with completion of the benefit forms linked to disabilities and poor health.
Thanks to prior publicity there was a great take-up of appointments. We helped 24 people with a range of forms some of which can take hours to complete. This is a fabulous achievement by our staff and volunteers who entered into the spirit of the event and worked together to help as many people as possible with the following forms.
- Personal Independence Payment forms and review forms.
- Disability living Allowance forms.
- Attendance Allowance
- Blue badge applications.
- Severely mentally impaired discount for council tax
- Employment Support Allowance forms/UC50’s
The provisional figure for the total income gained as a result of the event is £87,182. We expect this amount to rise during the week as further data is collected.
Day of Action – 18th December 2023
The December day of action programme will focus on energy and energy saving advice. The event will be delivered in partnership with Green Doctor.
We will be offering appointments at our Beeston and Eastwood offices 10- 3pm to provide income maximisation and energy saving advice to those are struggling with the cost of energy.
At the appointment one of our trained advisers will offer advice and support on the following;
· Smart meters
· Energy saving measures, tailored to your circumstances
· Advice on Income maximisation, including; a benefit check to ensure you are claiming everything you are entitled to,
· advice and support on grants available and how to apply
· advice on the signing up to the priority services register
· support with energy debt
For an appointment please contact either office during our opening hours or by phone Beeston; 01159173802 , Eastwood 01773768363,
Green Doctor advisors will also be in attendance on the day offering appointments for home visits to look at energy savings measures and support within the home.
Day of Action – January 2024
We are planning to deliver two events during January. Traditionally this is our busiest month when people are sturggling to budget as the costs of winter bite and budgets have been impacted by the festive season.
Debt focused event – more details to follow.
Date and venue to be confirmed
Employment event. We are hoping to be joined by Futures and the Jobcentre. The event will look at how you can increase you skills, employability, increasing earnings capacity and economic activity. We will be able to offer advice on better-off calculations.
Date and venue to be confirmed.
Day of Action – February 2024
Pension Credit focused event. Every year £ millions go unclaimed in Pension Credits. This event will focus on ensuring that pensioners who are entitled claim their entitlement. We will of course be providing the usual holistic support to those that are struggling with the cost-of-living.
Date and venue to be confirmed.
Day of Action – March 2024
Details of the event to follow – stay tuned!
