Flintshire Social Prescription
Funder – Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board, Regional
Integration Fund, Flintshire County Council and Families First.
General description – The Flintshire Social Prescription Team is
managed by Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC) and is a
part of Flintshire’s Single Point of Access (SPoA) for Adult Services and the Early Help
Hub (EHH) for Children’s Services. Social prescribing connects people to practical and
emotional community support from a wide range of non-clinical services within the
Third Sector. FLVC’s Social Prescribers identify an individual’s needs through a ‘What
Matters’ conversation and will discuss appropriate services that will enable the
individual to maintain independence in the home, achieve their well-being goals, and
alleviate some of the pressures experienced as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.
Eligibility criteria – The service is open to everyone, and referrals can be taken from
anyone, including self-referrals. If a referral is being made on behalf of someone else,
then consent must be gained before making the referral. How to refer / access points
– Referrals can be made through SPoA at 03000 858858 or via email at
support@flvc.org.uk. Staff – The team currently consists of a Team Leader, and four
full-time and two part-time members of staff. End date – Subject to annual funding.
The Extra Mile Project
Funder – The National Lottery.
General description – Targeting advice at people with mental ill
health, with a focus on making advice more accessible for the target
group by providing new digital contact channels and
delivering advice services in places where people are
accessing support with their mental health. Eligibility
criteria – People with all levels of mental ill health. How to
refer / access points – Clients can access the project through usual CAF access
channels, our digital advice channels (WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS), or via our
outreaches in the KIM Hub, Flint Library and Heddfan. Organisations who are involved in
the care or support of people with mental ill health can refer people indirectly via the
website: www.flintshirecab.org.uk/extra-mile-referral Staff – Four staff (including two
caseworkers) and four dedicated volunteers actively work on the project.
End date – October 2023 currently, but we are exploring continuation funding options.
Welfare Rights Service (WRS) / Claim What’s Yours (CWYs)
Funder -The WRS is funded by Flintshire County Council, and
CWY is funded by the Welsh Government. General description –
The Welfare Rights service was delivered by FCC until 2016 when
delivery of the service was transferred to CAF. The current
funding agreement lasts until March 2023 and is reviewed annually.
Eligibility criteria – WRS – Must be a Flintshire resident. CWY –
anyone needing a benefit check or income maximisation advice in
Wales. How to refer / access points – WRS via Citizens Advice
Flintshire FLAG referral form: flintshire.cab@cabnet.org.uk. CWY
telephone: 0808 250 5700, Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm.
Staff – We currently have four caseworkers on the project.
We also have paid casework support. The service delivers any
level of Welfare Benefits advice from benefits checks up to
tribunal representation. Depending on the issue, some clients
will receive one-off advice, others will receive a casework service. The CWY service is a
helpline which is delivered by all Welsh Local Citizens Advice. We have four FTE
caseworkers on the project in Flintshire who specialise in benefit checks. Clients needing
additional help following their benefit check are referred to their LCA. When the line is
less busy we receive overflow calls from anywhere in Wales regarding any issue.
End date – Both are funded until March 2023. We hope for continuation funding.
Warm Wales
Funder – Wales and West utilities, Energy Redress Fund, Housing
Support Grant for Flintshire and Denbighshire.
General Description – “Our mission is to empower people to make
the right choices and decisions for themselves to enable them to alleviate fuel poverty
and become more resilient”. Community Workers offer a range of advice, support, and
referral options tailored to the needs of the household. Bringing together energy advice,
case worker support, education and behaviour change with well-being and social
prescribing to improve people’s health outcomes by understanding the root causes.
Looking to tackle fuel poverty, reduce avoidable health inequality and improve health
and well-being. It starts with the home and the more you talk, the more you find. This is
achieved by: Ensuring that residents’ basic needs are met so they can fulfil their
potential. Engagement, encouragement, education and empowerment. Ensuring
everyone has access to safe, sound, secure and warm housing. Where they can grow,
work and play. Eligibility criteria – Our services are free and open to everyone in
Wales. Some of the services we refer in to have their own eligibility criteria – these
usually relate to whether someone is on a low income, on certain means-tested benefits
and/or has health conditions. How to refer / access points – Referral link for both self
and organisations on our website: www.warmwales.org.uk/how-we-can-help-you Phone:
01352 711751. Email: NWreferrals@warmwales.org.uk Website: www.warmwales.org.uk
End Date – Main funding until October 2023, but we are exploring other funding
options. Smaller pots of funding are ongoing until 2024 /2025.
Specialist Debt Services At CAF
Single Advice Fund
Funder – Welsh Government. General description – We assist
clients with court applications, challenging liability, and multiple
enforcement cases. We work with a number of North Wales
partners to offer targeted specialist debt advice to the people
who need it the most. Eligibility criteria – This project
has targeted priority groups of clients: young people,
older people, learning disabilities, mental health;
domestic violence, substance abuse, health & disability,
carers, and veterans. However, the project is open to any
client who has a specialist debt need; this may include but is not limited to insolvency.
How to refer / access points – Clients can access the CAF project through the usual
CAF access channels. Referrals can also be made through FLAG or Refernet. Staff – Two
full-time debt caseworkers.
Housing Support Grant & Flintshire Council Debt
Funder – Flintshire County Council. General description –
Working in partnership with FCC and other support agencies, we
assist clients who have fallen behind with their housing
payments, and are at risk of homelessness. The project provides
early intervention with specialist casework and support
through a holistic service for all relevant advice needs;
focusing on debt options, budgeting and accessing
benefit entitlement. Eligibility criteria – Our HSG Debt
service provides advice to people who have a housing
need; clients that are homeless or living in temporary accommodation with a barrier to
permanent housing, with current rent or mortgage arrears or living in rented
accommodation, and who are persistently late paying their rent. This service is available
for clients who need additional support & debt advice. How to refer / access points –
Clients can access the HSG project through the usual CAF access channels or our FLAG
referral system. Flintshire Council Debt project is only available to referrers; Flintshire
County Council & supporting agencies can directly refer clients by sending a referral form
to our debt caseworker via debt@flintshirecab.org.uk Staff – Two full-time Debt Advice &
Support Caseworkers one of whom is a DRO Intermediary and IMA registered. End date
– March 2023 currently but hopeful for continued funding.
Discretionary Assistance Fund
Funder – Welsh Government. General description – The
Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) provides two types of grants to
the citizens of Wales that do not need to be paid back. Emergency
Assistance payment: Open to anyone over the age of 16 living in
Wales. It is a grant to help with essential living costs such as food,
gas, electricity, and emergency travel. The fund can help people who are: Experiencing
extreme financial hardship, have lost their job, have applied for benefits and are awaiting
their first payment. Individual Assistance Payment: A grant to help someone live
independently in their home or a property that they are moving into. These applications
to DAF must be partner supported, and the client must have an income-related benefit
to qualify. Eligibility criteria – Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP): Available to
citizens living in Wales over the age of 16. The DAF can provide assistance 3/5 times
within a 12-month rolling period. EAP applications impacted by Covid OR impacted by
Universal Credit and experiencing extreme financial hardship will continue to receive
entitlement of up to 5 awards in a rolling 12-month period. Clients can continue to be
considered for an award after the 7th day as long as they have not exceeded award
entitlement. EAP applications not impacted by Covid OR impacted by Universal Credit as
above will continue to receive entitlement of up to 3 awards in a rolling 12-month period.
Clients can continue to be considered for an award after the 28th day as long as they
have not exceeded award entitlement. Individual Assistance Payment (IAP): Available to
citizens living in Wales over the age of 16. These applicants must be partner-supported
and must have a qualifying benefit: Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers
Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Guaranteed Credit
element of Pension Credit, or Universal Credit. How to refer / access points –
Applications to DAF can be made online, by phone or by post. To become an approved
partner please contact DAF.Partners@necsws.com Apply online: Discretionary Assistance
Fund (DAF): Apply | GOV.WALES Phone: 0800 8595 924 Staff – Annie Lush is the
Partnership manager for the Discretionary assistance fund.
Well-Fed
General description – We offer a variety of services, all focused
on feeding people well and tackling hunger. All our services are
accessed via referral agents. Mobile Shops: Our mobile shops visit
Garden City, Sealand, Wrexham (Plas Madoc), Mold, Parklands
and Shotton Cricket Club, Penyffordd. FoodStore: Our fresh food response to food
poverty. We provide households with fresh recipe packs that they can use to create
freshly made meals as well as staple items such as bread, milk, eggs etc. We run this
service for 12 weeks in total: 4 weeks for free, 4 weeks for £10 and 4 weeks for £15. Each
food parcel is worth £38. Eligibility criteria – People with food insecurity or who would
have otherwise received a food bank voucher. How to refer / access points – via
referral agencies and/or direct as customers if attending our Mobile Shops. Staff – 24
CAF Energy Advice Services
Funder – Energy Redress Scheme, Moondance Foundation and
Gwynt y Môr Community Fund. General description – Force for
Energy is an energy advice project established to meet the needs of
the Armed Forces community (service and veteran) across North
Wales, funded through the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress
Scheme. The project aims to reduce fuel poverty by identifying and
supporting vulnerable households and providing them with holistic
advice and support. The project is also in partnership with other
North Wales LCA’s and Woody’s Lodge which is a social hub, which
guides veterans to the help & support they need to re-engage with
their families and communities. GYM Energy Project is funded by the
Gwynt y Môr (GYM) Community Fund, targeting households who are
predominantly off-grid and living in the Flintshire rural coastal
community. The project aims to provide Income maximisation and
energy advice to people living in the GYM area. Citizens Advice
Cymru are funded by the Moondance Foundation to provide
one-to-one energy advice and related issues to fuel poor and
vulnerable clients across Wales. In Flintshire, we can provide energy
advice to households in fuel poverty or at risk of fuel
poverty. Areas of advice include bill reading
/interpretation, emergency support, tariffs, Smart Meter
advice, energy grants, energy debt management, income
maximisation, efficiency measures and other help
available. Eligibility criteria – Armed Forces Community, Households living in Flintshire
rural coastal community and households in fuel poverty or at risk of fuel poverty.
How to refer / access points – Clients can access the projects through usual CAF
access channels (telephone, WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS etc..) and via our website:
www.flintshirecab.org.uk. Third parties can refer to us via our Flintshire Local Advice
Gateway or via Refernet. Staff – 2.5 full-time equivalent energy advisers working on
these projects.