Project run by the Pitsmoor Citizens Advice Bureau, providing a home visiting advice service to people who are isolated in their homes due to disability, old age or caring responsibilities.
The project visits people who would not be able to get into our bureau or outreach sessions for advice on their rights. This is usually because of physical disability. Opening out our services in this way is an essential part of our development and an equal opportunity issue. Any advice service interested in the practical application of equality of opportunity needs to address home visiting somehow or other.
The project also helps new volunteers to experience and access progressive training to further their advice skills.
The project's services have been used by approximately 500 people over the last year.
The Home Visiting Project receives funding under the Health theme.
Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Contact Details
Charles Sharp
28-30 Spital Hill, Sheffield, S4 7LG.
Telephone: 0114 272 3250
Fax: 0114 276 9454
Success Stories
Mr A is a gentleman who was born in the Yemen but has been resident in the UK for more than thirty years and worked for most of his working life in the local steel industry. He is now retired.
His wife, in the Yemen, had been claiming a retirement pension also, but had it stopped when local immigration authorities cast doubt on her age and identity. The Pensions Service were asking for the return of £11,000 of pension already paid to her.
We took the case to tribunal where we suggested that, since she had a fifty year old son, living in the US, we should try and establish biological links between them. We suggested this could be done through DNA testing. Tests were set up, here, in the US and the Yemen.
After many months of wrangling it was accepted that this lady was who she claimed to be. She had her pension re-instated and backdated to a value of over £18,000 in total.
Mr C is a young man. He is affected by Myalgic Encephalomyelitis which has had a devastating effect on his life. He had a mountain of debts and his affairs were in a shambles.
We visited him and helped him to sort out benefit entitlement (Disability Living Allowance, extra Income Support) which secured him over £160 extra per week. We addressed his debts and secured an equitable payout to creditors, found him more suitable accommodation and helped him find sources of funding to furnish his home and adapt it to his disabilities, representing a Social Fund payment of over £1000).
This has impacted positively on his confidence and self-esteem and he now faces life with renewed optimism.