Where to turn for support

Lincoln MP Hamish Falconer will host an event aiming to help people get the right support with issues ranging from benefits to volunteering and from training to advice for carers.

The Connecting You to Support Event will be held at The Drill on Wednesday, July 30 from 10am to 1pm and will be attended by around 30 organisations.

“I’m really excited for the upcoming Lincoln Health and Wellbeing Community Event on July 30.” said Hamish.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for people in Lincoln to connect with local support services, discover wellbeing resources, and explore employment opportunities all in one place.

“Events like this are so important in bringing our community together and making sure everyone knows what help is available to them. I’m proud that my office is sponsoring the event in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, and I look forward to seeing lots of you there.”

The event is sponsored by the MP’s office in partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

DWP Partnership Manager Graham Metcalfe explained the event follows a forum held in May to address concerns about the Welfare Reform Bill.

“At the end of the forum we noticed we had people who stayed behind to ask how they could get support with the problems they faced, so this event is to connect them to the support that’s out there.”

Although supported by the DWP the event is not compulsory for people on benefits to attend and Graham explained it was aimed that those claimants whose health issues meant they did not engage regularly with the JobCentre or other agencies so were unaware of the support available locally.

Support is available from a wide range of agencies – some of these who will have a stall at The Drill are listed below – and help could be available from unexpected sources as Graham explained.

“Anglia Water will be present as they can offer support such as discounted tariffs for people with medical conditions that mean they need to shower or bathe more often than normal. We had seven or eight people who spoke to us after May’s forum and we have been able to save them a total of £1,000 by connecting them to Anglia Water.

“The event will be all about connecting people to the right support.”

Stallholders will include: 

• Acts Trust, Lincolnshire Partnership 
• NHS Trust Individual Placement and Support Teams
• Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership
• Lincolnshire Community Foundation
• Abbey Access
• Lincoln City Foundation
• Shine
• Green synergy
• developmentplus
• Lincs Voluntary Centre Services
• Lincoln College
• NBV – business support organisation
• The Network – work progression support for young people 
• National Careers Service
• Citizens Advice
• Anglian Water
• Barclays 
• Age UK
• Wellbeing Lincs
• YMCA
• NHS Reservists
• Lincolnshire County Council Family Information Service
• GamCare – gambling harm support
• City of Lincoln Council
• LDASS – Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Specialist Service
• Carers First
• Lincolnshire County Council Independent Advice and Guidance Service
• One You Lincolnshire
• Department of Work and Pensions