Figures published by the Guardian last week warned that millions of working families were at risk of slipping into extreme poverty, with Wellingborough coming 152nd in a list of all local authorities in the UK.
The government's Welfare Reform Act represents the biggest change to the social welfare system in 60 years. Many of our tenants will be hit by the introduction of the so-called "bedroom tax" and the government's own guidance to local councils to cut the council tax benefit bill by 10%. Because older people are protected by the latter, many are predicting that some people could see their benefit cut by up to £29 in the Midlands.
The reality is that all of us are being asked to manage with less because of the economic situation. But this doesn't hit equally; many people are already stressed by money worries or running out of money before their next support payment comes in.
Recent surveys have shown that 30% of tenants are worried about money. For some, there are even bigger worries than unpaid bills, such as health and family. Some charities fear they could go under as they are pushed for funding and using up their reserves.
In Wellingborough, we are trying to pool limited resources by working in partnership. People should only have to tell their story once, have it heard, and receive support and advice built around them. We don't believe in signposting, but rather taking people to the destination.
For example, we've turned an empty retail unit into a one stop shop for help and advice. This "Fish shop" appears as any other high street shop in the centre of Wellingborough and inside there are agencies offering advice on budgeting and benefits, help to find work, free training, health advice and help to deal with domestic violence. Most of these issues have a big impact on family life.
The Fish shop – which stands for financial inclusion support hub – is designed to remove stigma and break down barriers. More than 70% of people who come in are looking for help with benefits, 10% want help finding work and 8% need help with debt. Half are registered disabled, and 66% are women.
Since its launch in December 2011, Fish has secured almost £500,000 in additional benefits that local residents were entitled to but were failing to claim, and handled just under £1m worth of debt. It has helped 12 people into work, and advised 48 people on health issues such as healthy eating and quitting smoking.
When measuring our social impact, we're using the shop as a pilot to demonstrate the difference that working with other services can make, and asking people what difference it's made to their lives.
If you're thinking of setting up something similar we'd recommend finding areas of common ground with partners, and accepting that you have to park some ideas for phase two of your project. The landscape is continually changing – how it looks now won't be how it looks in 18 months' time.
Simon Favell is operations director for Wellingborough Homes
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