Islington People’s Rights (IPR) is delivering additional targeted specialist advice in welfare benefits to residents most affected by Covid-19, through the IPR Enable project. Islington residents have faced major challenges since March 2020, with many needing urgent support in relation to welfare benefits. IPR is providing additional targeted specialist advice in welfare benefits, particularly to those with mental health issues, and to those with other disabilities. The IPR Enable project focuses on supporting disabled residents, and those with underlying health conditions who have been at high risk in relation to Covid-19, and been shielding at certain points. Many live alone and, given their mental health issues, have struggled over recent months. Those with low literacy and IT skills need extra support to access benefits. IPR is meeting the increased demand for welfare benefits advice and casework support through additional casework capacity, plus technological enhancements. We are offering tailored welfare benefits advice, support and representation to additional vulnerable individuals in Islington. If you need help with welfare benefits issues, get help through the IPR Enable project. Contact the IPR Advice Line on 020 7561 3685 (Option 1) on a Monday, Tuesday or Friday between 2pm and 4pm.

This project was funded by the Trust for London, through the London Community Response Fund, and ran to 31st March 2021.

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 was funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, and ran to 31st March 2021.

Islington Direct was 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 had meant that IPR secured three years of funding for this project. Complementing our Core Service, Islington Direct provided 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 provided 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 assisted those with complex issues which cut across different areas of need and maximised the impact across the two organisations. The project funding ended in December 2022.

The Islington Water Debt Advice Project ended in December 2025, when the funding from the Thames Water Trust Fund came to an end. It was first launched in April 2018, with funding from this Trust Fund. This project offered a specialist debt advice and casework service, delivered by an experienced caseworker to Islington residents. The focus was on those with water debts, but the service also assisted with other debts, notably utility debts. The project also helped people in debt to maximise their income and better manage their debts. It also helped them to develop sustainable repayment plans and correctly prioritise debts. The project encouraged individuals to better understand budgeting and how to manage their money effectively. It also promoted the Thames Water Priority Service Register and the various schemes that the water company has set up to assist clients who are struggling to pay their water bills, and with their financial situation more generally.

Residents with debts can still 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 Foundation, formerly known as City Bridge Trust, IPR Assist provided extra capacity to work with the most vulnerable residents in the borough. Launched in April 2019, this project used IPR’s experience and local networks to provide intensive support to around 500 people a year. We worked 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 were 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 had 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 has helped to make a big difference for well over 2,000 people in poverty in Islington over the five years it was funded.