Get Help
Are You Struggling?
Do you need help with housing, benefits, debt, council tax or utility bills?
Here at Stratford upon Avon Foodbank our partnership project with Citizens Advice South Warwickshire is here to help everyone who gets a food parcel from us. We have two dedicated caseworkers who work tirelessly for us, to help and support you with whatever challenges you may be facing.
If you need help with any aspect of your money or to talk through any challenges you re facing, we are here for you.
Here are some examples of the people we have helped and what has been achieved in financial outcomes for them:
Case study 1 – from 2023
Background: a single male whose only income is Universal Credit with the Housing element, with a number of deductions being made for rent and Council Tax arrears. He has not worked for over 10 years due to a number of health issues, including severe anxiety and depression. He was referred to the Foodbank by a Mental Health Practitioner from MIND as he told her he ran out of money after about 2 weeks as he owed so much money.
Advice: he needed help to deal with his debts and apply for PIP due to previous unsuccessful attempts. He was supported through his PIP telephone assessment as he has great difficulty in finding the words to express himself due to his health issues.
Financial Outcomes:
After all the work that our Money Advice Project caseworker did on behalf of this client, the financial benefits were:
PIP income gains: £407 every 4-weeks (£5291 per year)/ plus a substantial backpayment
Debt written off: £920
Grants: £130
Other: Free Swimming Pass to Stratford Leisure Centre.
Case study 2 – from 2023
Background: an older single gentleman who has worked for the past 39 years for a building firm at just above the minimum wage, working 40 hours per week. He had been sent home from work after fainting and he said that he hadn’t eaten for 3 days as he could not afford to buy food after paying his rent and bills. He came to the foodbank and asked if he could have a food parcel, he didn’t have a voucher but due to his circumstances, a voucher was raised and 4 bags of food was given to him.
Income: the client took home an average £1400 a month. After rent, council tax and energy costs, he did not have much money left over each month and he habitually borrowed money from friends to last until pay day.
Advice: A benefit check identified that he was eligible to make a universal credit claim and that it would benefit him by £303 per month. He was advised that if the universal credit claim was successful then he would be eligible for the Cost of Living payments this autumn and spring 2024. CEF grant was applied for which was successful and a payment of £75 was made directly to him so that he could buy fresh food.
Financial outcomes:
After all the work that our Money Advice Project caseworker did on behalf of this client, the financial benefits were:
Universal credit income gain: £70 per week (£3640 per year)
Cost of Living payments of £300 and £299.
Emergency Grant £75
This project is able to run because of the support of Stratford Town Trust and The Trussell Trust.
