31/08/2022
๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ค๐ค๐ง๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ญ๐๐ค๐ง๐
At the Agnes Smith Advice Centre in Blackbird Leys, we have provided benefits and debt advice to more than 1400 residents over the last year, keeping people in their homes and helping them keep warm and fed.
We are at the heart of a community facing high levels of disadvantage, and people come to us when they donโt know where else to turn.
๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ญ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง
Now we are facing our toughest challenge yet. Last weekโs announcement of an 80% energy rise from October will mean an average electricity bill of ยฃ3.549 per year. This, alongside price inflation for food and other household essentials, is likely to have a devastating impact on Blackbird Leys residents and will bring many more clients to our door.
Over half the people we see have disabilities. Others are pensioners or families with young children โ all at risk if they canโt afford to eat or heat their homes.
We have already seen the impact of previous price rises. July, normally quiet, was our busiest month so far โ we helped 259 people with new enquiries, up by almost 40% compared with last year. Almost half said they were short of food and/or had run out of gas and electric because they couldnโt afford to top up prepayment meters.
๐๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฃ
We know we will need to provide our advice to more clients. For those where income simply isnโt enough to pay for basic essentials, we also plan to:
1. Distribute the governmentโs Household Support Grants, as supermarket and fuel vouchers
2. Refer people to the Oxford Community Emergency Foodbank and the Blackbird Leys Community Larder and even provide food ourselves as a stop gap
3. Help people apply for Warm Home Discounts, Waterhelp and other social tariffs for water, bus passes, help with health costs, healthy start vouchers and more
4. Refer people for energy advice and home assessments to deal with damp or mould
5. Submit applications to the Thames Water Trust Fund for replacement white goods where a cooker or washing machine has broken
6. Refer people to the baby bank for help with baby clothes and equipment
7. Submit charity applications for clothing, school uniforms, beds, bedding and other essentials
8. Run outreach centres in Greater Leys and Cowley, ensuring easy access for almost all the poorest in Oxford.
๐๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ ๐ช๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐จ
We receive funding from Oxford City Council and a number of trusts and foundations. But this year ๐ฐ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ยฃ๐๐๐๐ to start our regular winter adviser in October and keep her until next spring. This will allow us to help almost 20% more clients than in a normal year. If we exceed the ยฃ5,000 target, we will put additional money towards essential running costs. Donations can be made through our website at www.agnessmith.co.uk.
We donโt want to leave anyone behind. Weโve got a great team, and weโre determined ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ to do our best for all those who need us.
Drop in to give us your details. We will arrange for an adviser to phone you, or we can arrange a face-to-face appointment if needed.
