Partnership working: joint working to benefit residents
To help ensure people can access the right support when they need it we are working closely with Citizens Advice Gateshead (CAG) to expand the reach of their service and widen the range of advice and guidance they collectively bring to local communities.
Impact of the project
Each year we provide financial assistance to CAG to help support their service delivery.
- During the last year CAG have helped over 18,500 residents with 150,000 issues. Residents seek support with things such as benefit entitlement, debt, housing and health.
- CAG has generated £27.53m in financial gains for the people of the borough.
- CAG now operate across seven local venues across Gateshead in areas of high demand, with advisers working closely alongside the existing support at each location.
- All CAG advisers have now been trained to be able to respond to housing related enquires. Previously such issues, which could relate to anything from rent arrears to homelessness, were handled exclusively by a smaller team of housing experts. This upskilling has reduced wait times.
- W have invested in the development of our contact centre team, who already provide a valuable support function to residents. This team will both make referrals to CAG where appropriate, and receive them following a CAG intervention - the resident will be offered guidance on how best to engage with us depending on their needs.
- CAG have recruited an additional adviser, and extended their opening times to include weekends to be able to support those in full time employment or who find it difficult to get into the service at other times. They are open at their main centre Davidson Building, Swan Street in Gateshead town centre between 10am and 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Supporting residents to thrive
People need to access different services at different times throughout their life, depending on their personal circumstances. This can make things complicated and sometimes overwhelming. We want to ensure that all Gateshead residents can get the support they need when they need it and working with CAG gives us the best opportunity to do this.
Councillor Maria Hall, Cabinet Member for Localities, Communities and Volunteering, said: "The role of CAG in supporting the wellbeing of Gateshead's residents cannot be understated, and with the council forging an ever-closer relationship with them, we can make sure we're providing a comprehensive and joined up service provision that is willing and ready to support those in need.
"The impact of the funding we provide has been remarkable, and I'm so pleased we've been able to support the introduction of a broad of service developments that are making a real difference to local residents. Long may it continue."
Barry Taylor, Chair of Trustees at Citizens Advice Gateshead, said:
"The relationship we have with Gateshead Council is critical to the development of better services for Gateshead residents. We can act as a trusted voice for the residents and a respected partner with the council. Working together for the people of Gateshead, we're constantly innovating together to find new ways of delivering support, and we look forward to continuing this pathway into the future, to make sure everyone gets the help they so desperately need."
If you are experiencing issues relating to benefits, financial hardship, employment, housing, health, discrimination, legal, relationships, crisis support, or anything in between and you think CAG may be able to help, you can call them on 0808 278 7902, drop-in to one of the convenient locality hubs or visit Citizens Advice Gateshead.