Islington People’s Rights (IPR) is working hard to meet the challenge of the Covid-19 crisis. IPR Advice Plus delivers additional targeted specialist advice around welfare benefits and debt matters to residents most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Most of our services are currently delivered by phone and online with IPR Caseworkers working from home. IPR Advice Plus can assist disabled residents who need additional help at this time around welfare benefits and to address debt issues, particularly if they have underlying health conditions, and are at high risk in relation to Covid-19. We are also able to assist those with mental health issues, who may have struggled since lockdown, with benefits or debt issues. We can also help those with low literacy and IT skills who need extra support to access benefits, or to tackle their debt issues. If you need help with debt problems or welfare benefits advice, get help through the IPR Advice Plus project. Contact the IPR Advice Line on 020 7561 3685 on a Monday, Tuesday or Friday between 2 and 4pm.

This project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, and runs to 31st March 2021.

Islington Direct is an IPR partnership project with Islington Law Centre (ILC), and delivery began in January 2020. A successful bid to the Partnership Programme of National Lottery Community Fund meant that IPR secured three years of new funding for this project. Complementing our Core Service, Islington Direct provides effective and holistic advice services addressing debt problems, maximising incomes from welfare benefits, supporting individuals around homelessness and housing, and tackling immigration issues. The Windrush Scandal highlighted some of the challenges certain UK residents face. Even residents who are able to get their status resolved can encounter real barriers and delays in getting the essential income they are entitled to.

Islington Direct provides the capacity to work with the most vulnerable residents in the borough, and address key challenges faced by those living in poverty by delivering tailored and specialist advice. It assists those with complex issues which cut across different areas of need and maximises the impact across the two organisations. To access the Islington Direct project, which provides debt, welfare benefits, housing and immigration advice and casework support, call the IPR Telephone Advice Line open Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays 2-4pm on 020 7561 3685.

Many families with children with disabilities or long term health conditions have financial difficulties, and do not access their full entitlement of benefits. Often they get in debt as they have little time or knowledge to negotiate the bureaucracy. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) remains for children under the age of 16, but it is a complicated application process needing an appeal if turned down.

IPR KidsSupport is a dedicated service for Islington families with children with disabilities or long term health conditions, that was launched in December 2018. It can assist with DLA Child Applications, Appeals, Tax credits and other matters that would assist such families. It includes appointments at the IPR main office in Holloway. We already had existing demand from families with children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as autism. We will link up with specialist organisations locally to ensure that families with children who have learning difficulties, autism and physical disabilities, to ensure they know about the service. Initial funding has been secured from Cloudesley and we are seeking further funds to develop the IPR KidsSupport initiative further.

To find out more about IPR KidsSupport, or for advice and appointments, ring the IPR Telephone Advice Line on 020 7561 3685 on a Monday, Tuesday or Friday between 2pm and 4pm.

Islington People’s Rights (IPR) launched the Islington Water Debt Advice Project, in April 2018, with 2 year funding from the Thames Water Trust Fund. This project offers a face to face specialist debt advice and casework service, delivered by an experienced debt caseworker to Islington residents. The focus will be on those with water debts, but the service can assist with other debts, notably utility debts. The service will help people in debt to maximise their income and better manage their debt. It will also help them to develop sustainable repayment plans and correctly prioritise debts. The service will encourage individuals to better understand budgeting and how to manage their money effectively, and be delivered through one to one appointments.

Residents with debts can contact IPR for an appointment, by ringing the telephone advice line on 020 7561 3685 between 2 and 4pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Organisations can also contact IPR if they have members or clients with debts, particularly those that work with vulnerable members of the local community.

Funded by City Bridge Trust, IPR Assist gives extra capacity to work with the most vulnerable residents in the borough. Launched in April 2019, this 3 year project uses IPR’s experience and local networks to provide intensive support to around 500 people a year. We work with key local partners, notably Help On Your Doorstep (HOYD) to identify those residents most
affected by poverty and most in need of support. Weekly referrals are booked in for appointments at our offices at the Manor Gardens Centre, particularly those requiring specialist welfare benefits advice, casework and representation. The majority of those being referred have disabilities, and problems accessing their full entitlement of benefits.

There are increasing numbers of people living in poverty in Islington. Inequality is on the rise and the borough is becoming more acutely divided between the haves and the have-nots. We know that part of this is related to the benefits system. When people have their benefits suspended, or delayed, with so many living on the breadline, the smallest change in
circumstances can leave people with no money at all.

IPR Assist will help to make a big difference for well over 1,000 people in poverty over the three years in Islington.