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| Supporting People funds over 270 services and more than 65 organisations in Staffordshire and at any one time up to 16,000 people are accessing housing-related support from services funding through Supporting People. |
Supporting People Raising Awareness in Staffordshire
Supporting People is a government programme of housing-related support services which helps vulnerable people to live independently in the community. It is hoped that the launch of a brand new County-wide campaign will make people aware of the support that is available from the local authority and its housing partners.
Supporting People funds over 270 services and more than 65 organisations in Staffordshire and at any one time up to 16,000 people are accessing housing-related support from services funding through Supporting People.
"Supporting People gives us the money to commission services that will empower people and give opportunities to enjoy the same quality of life as everyone else," says Cllr Susan Woodward, Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities and Older People and Chair of Supporting People's Commissioning Body.
"This is very much part of our new era in Social Care and Health. Our programme for change means we're constantly seeking new and more creative ways for us to deliver better services and support those who wish to remain independent in their own homes and communities."
The County Council already works closely with other agencies to identify those who are vulnerable or at risk. "However there are still people out there that we're not reaching," says Cllr Woodward, "Especially the 'harder to reach' minority groups.
Peter Moran is just one of the people to have benefited from Supporting People. He once had a successful career working on the railways, until ill health forced him to retire early in 1998. Now 64 he has help towards support in his accommodation through Staffordshire County Council.
Mr Moran suffers with Reynalds Disease which makes him suffer with the cold and affects his mobility. He spent some time in St Georges hospital before moving to a homeless project for five weeks until suitable accommodation became available. It was then that he got support from Stafford Hospital's League of Friends who helped him to find a flat which he shared with two others until early 2007. Mr Moran longed for a place of his own and in March last year he found a flat in Stafford - somewhere he could at last call 'home'. He continues to have support from the League of Friends with occasional trips to the shops and other outings.
"Without this partial funding from Supporting People I'm not sure I'd have survived. I cannot praise all those who've helped me enough," says Mr Moran.
A series of events and other initiatives will drive the campaign to raise awareness about Supporting People and how it can help others like Mr Moran:
"Towards the Spring we're taking staff out to the districts to tell people more about the service," says Cllr Woodward. "Another major reason for doing this is to make this sort of information more easily accessible out in the communities. We'll be doing this through roadshows, our website and as many creative ways as we can to communicate our message and get valuable feedback to help us continue to change the lives of vulnerable people for the better."
Click here to find out more about the Supporting People initiative, get involved and use our service directory.
Page Last Modified:
25/02/2008 09:04:33
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