The project launch will take place on Wednesday 13th November, from 3 pm to 6 pm, at the Community Links Play, Sow and Grow Community Hub, 6 Gay Road, Stratford, London E15 2RN. The programme will showcase debt, water and fuel advice and include community activities, bringing together children, young people and adults.
Linda Perham, Chair of the Thames Water Trust Fund, said: “The Thames Water Trust Fund is very pleased to support Community Links and their Advice Service, providing vital support for disadvantaged people, who struggle to make ends meet and fall into debt as a result. We are gratified by the difference our contribution will make for so many residents in Newham”.
Sharon Elliott, Community Links’ Information, Advice and Guidance Manager, said: “We are hugely grateful to Thames Water Trust Fund for their support. As the first wave of welfare reform is hitting – with the biggest changes still to come – people are increasingly struggling to pay their bills. This project is tremendously important in meeting the needs of those who are hardest hit, making sure that they do not fall even further into debt. Thanks to the support of Thames Water Trust Fund for this project, we don’t need to turn people away when they come to us for debt or money management advice.”
Community Links advisors see people every day who are having to make a choice between eating, heating and paying their rent – the majority of whom are working, often more than one job, and still struggling to feed their families. Yet there are fewer places for people to turn when they need help, as a result of the challenging funding environment. Some services, including Community Links’ advice programme, which were previously publicly funded, now rely almost entirely on voluntary support.
For further information please contact:
Richard McKeever, Communications Manager
Tel: 020 7473 9671
Email: richard.mckeever@community-links.org
Web: http://www.community-links.org
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1 Community Links. Since 1977 Community Links has been changing lives. Working in the heart of east London, faced with chronic poverty – unemployment, low educational attainment, poor health outcomes and household deprivation. East London also has huge opportunities – enterprising people, strong neighbourhoods and local and national investment. Community Links is matching up people and opportunities. Helping young people gain skills, getting adults into work, providing spaces for families to thrive, developing businesses for the future and, every time, doing this together with the people who need support, the funders who want to make a difference and the policy-makers with influence.
Since January 2013 a total of 3,428 people have received advice through our Open Door Advice sessions, the sessions at our Community Hubs and our weekly Form Filling and Free Law Services.
http://www.community-links.org
2 Thames Water Trust Fund
Thames Water Trust Fund is an independent charitable trust. Grants are available to assist individuals and families in need with water and sewerage debts. Each year, trustees also allocate a limited amount to support Money Advice and Debt Counselling.
http://www.twtf.org.uk