Published: Tuesday, 21st March 2023
It's been six months since Oldham Council launched our We Can Help resident support campaign.
The aim of the campaign has been simple - to get Oldham residents the support they need to help them through the cost of living crisis.
Tomorrow (Wednesday 22 March) marks six months since the £3m We Can Help programme of support was launched. In that time, incredible work has been done to support those who needed it the most. Some of this work includes:
- Giving bespoke support and advice to more than 7,000 people who have called the We Can Help helpline
- More than 200 cases have been looked after by our support and inclusion teams who provide tailored support, signposting and referrals for residents who have been identified as having needs beyond one-off crisis support.
- More than 10,000 conversations held by our Doorstep Engagement teams
- More than £130,000 worth of support given out via our Warm Homes teams
- More than 5,000 foodbank vouchers fulfilled
- Supporting Citizens Advice in Oldham who have advised more than 5,000 residents
- Delivering "poverty proofing" training to several schools
- Establishing warm banks in every district in Oldham
- Delivering more than £500,000 in grants to the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCSFE) sector to help them support the communities they serve.
One person helped by the council's cost of living response was Sarah*. When a council Doorstep Team member knocked on her door to see how she was getting on they found she had just gotten out of bed as she was staying there to keep warm. She had no money and was unable to buy essentials such as food, gas, and electricity.
Sarah is a single parent and was worried that she may be judged if she sought support so therefore did not seek help and advice. She was also unaware of who to turn to for help as she had not experienced this situation before and continued to struggle alone.
Sarah was given information about who could help her, and she immediately contacted the council helpline for support. That same day it was arranged for her to get access to food and energy E-vouchers for gas and electricity.
Situations like Sarah's have become much more common during the cost of living crisis, with thousands of residents having received help and support.
Oldham Council Leader, Amanda Chadderton, said: "The ongoing high cost of living has been affecting everyone. That's why I'm proud of our response to this crisis. We've been making sure that those who need help the most get it and everyone knows where to turn to get support.
"We know that as we've been helping people early on it will save the council money in the long run. Providing support for people when they first need is much more effective than jumping in when they've reached crisis point.
"It's been great to see people and organisations from across Oldham really come together over the past six months. We have amazing charities and community groups who have worked tirelessly in their neighbourhoods to help each other. We've shown once again, like we did during the Covid pandemic, that Oldhamers stick together and pull through when times are hard.
"We'll be carrying on with our support campaign as I know things haven't got much better since we started. Inflation is still affecting the price of many essential items and we know people are still struggling. So, if you or someone you know are having a tough time then please reach out to see what help is available to you - we're here to help."
Visit the We Can Help webpage to see how you could get support.
Wherever you live in Oldham, you can find help available in every district.