29/09/2026
TWCAU NEXT STEPS PROJECT
Updated 29/9/2026
At TWCAU we seek to support Unemployed, Sick and Disabled people in a variety of different ways. The majority of people approach us for help with benefit applications, in particular for support with Personal Independence and Universal Credit claims. Over the last couple of years this aspect of our work has expanded greatly. In part this is because we are becoming more well known, but also because of changes in the Welfare Benefit system and because of changes in the way that benefit entitlement is assessed.
In the run up to the migration of many benefits into Universal Credit we looked at the support we offer and the resources that we had. Our Centre has two part time staff members plus a team of volunteers. We can support people intensively from making an initial application all the way through to Tribunal Level. We recently won a case at a Second Tier Tribunal which resulted eventually in someone being awarded several years back money due to a change in the law. Most of our volunteers either have some sort of disability themselves or have family members who have health conditions or disabilities. This means we have valuable personal experience. However, we also have a wide range of other skills. For example we have staff and volunteers with qualifications and experience in Careers Education and Guidance, Teachers and trainers, Former Housing Officers and volunteers with knowledge of aspects of law. We can also call on a number of volunteers with language and translation skills.
Our Next Steps Project links our day to day work in supporting people with benefit claims with careers and employability support as well as basic skills in digital access as well as with English and Maths. Many of the people that we work with have been out of work for a long time because of ill health or disability. Many are now obliged to be looking for work and need support as the skills they have are outdated or they are unable to do the job that they did before.
We can help people plan for the future and guide them into suitable work. Most recently two people we have worked with have begun Degree Level Courses at University, while others have participated in Warehousing Courses. Our Volunteers are also picking up experience. The work we do means that people can pick up valuable and very transferable skills. One volunteer is now developing her own business and we have supported others into Further Education and Employment.
We work with Community Organisations and others who make referrals to us and also we get a lot of people who hear about us through their friends, or who see our Office or our publicity. We can offer language support and translation in several Asian and European languages.
So, if you need help or you know someone who does then please get in touch.
You can contact us on [email protected] or on 01916290259.
Our Next Steps Project is Supported by the National Lottery Awards for All programme, The Alex Ferry Foundation, Gateshead Council, the WA Handley Trust and the Roy and Pixie Baker Trust.
