Investing in communities
Our community investment programme offers a wide range of support with issues such as managing your money, finding a job and better paid work, getting online and maintaining your tenancy.
In 2020/21, we invested £505,000 in support services, received over £250,000 from contracts and grants and obtained the equivalent of £8.4m in social value for customers through support.
Making a difference to people’s lives
Understanding the difference that our support makes is vital. It helps us to target our services effectively and enables us to calculate the ‘return’ we get from our investment. To measure the impact, we use a tool called Wellbeing Valuation which gives us a cash value for every positive result achieved.
Understanding the difference that our support makes is vital. It helps us to target our services effectively and enables us to calculate the ‘return’ we get from our investment. To measure the impact, we use a tool called Wellbeing Valuation which gives us a cash value for every positive result achieved.
Financial support from Moneywise
The pandemic made life for those on low income even harder than ever, with many furloughed or having to claim benefits for the first time. The Moneywise team were there to assist with benefit applications, benefit appeals, food bank referrals, charity grant applications and support with managing income and spending.
We also worked with Reigate and Banstead Citizens Advice Bureau who have helped to write off over £100,000 in unaffordable debt for our customers.
In November 2020 we started piloting our Settling In Service, to help those customers identified as needing extra support to settle into their new home. This includes help with benefit changes, accessing grants for furniture and flooring, setting up utilities, and identifying and engaging with local support organisations.
Support to stay in your home
The Parashoot service works across East Surrey, supporting anyone referred by their local council who might be at risk of losing their home. We also help people to access essentials like furniture, food and benefits, as well as accessing support for mental health issues or to find employment.
127 people supported to remain in their homes
907 customers supported through Moneywise
23 customers offered support through our Settling In Service
100% had sufficient white goods and furniture by the end of the support period.
£2.1m in additional income secured for customers
93 successful Customer Support Fund applications
Getting you online and back into work
The ability to digitally connect with friends and family - to do school work and work from home - was more important than ever last year.
Our Digital Inclusion team had to adapt quickly to meet the increased need for computer equipment so they took on a project called Level Up.
Working with Voluntary Action Reigate and Banstead, a team of volunteers refurbished laptops, working with schools to identify families who needed them. Since the start of the project we’ve donated over 900 laptops to schools, with a social value of £1.5m.
In addition to providing valuable support to help people with their digital skills, the team have also assisted with online housing register applications to help customers find the right home.
Helping you find work
Despite the pandemic making it a very difficult time for both unemployed and working people, we have continued to provide support through our employment programmes.
We helped 137 people, which included support with confidence building, CV writing and interview preparation. Of those, 12 secured work and 23 went back into education or training to improve their skills for work.
137 accessed employment support
12 secured work
23 into education/training to improve their skills for work
