CASA Services Progress Report

Welfare – Employment - Business Support Services. 1 ^st April 2011 to 31 ^st December 2011

Summary

1 - The Welfare, Employment & Website Support Programme delivered a program of welfare advice, employment protection, website design and other associated services to Liverpool residents.

2 - Provided Welfare Advice to people in need via support services delivered directly at the CASA or through outreach sessions or through home visits. This  includes income maximisation, debt advice, the preparation of all submissions, liaising with benefit offices and other government and non-governmental agencies and representation at tribunal etc.

3 - Provided Employment Protection advice delivered either at the CASA or through outreach sessions. This includes writing to employers, workplace representation and preparation of all supportive documentation and proposals.

4 - Provided personal Website Design and Development including graphic design, temporary email addresses and the initial hosting of their personal website.

5 - The Programme also assisted young people into first-time employment via the Initiative Factory Trading Companies, CASA Bar/Bistro.

6 - The main beneficiaries of the funding were people living or working in the immediate City Center and surrounding areas needing help and advice about welfare benefits, employment support or website design and construction.

During this period we have delivered positive assistance to 210 new and existing clients through 386 advice sessions on matters to do with welfare support, employment support and business website development.

Welfare advice and guidance work for this quarter helped 162 beneficiaries through 276 sessions of advice, including advice on Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), Employment Support Allowance (ESA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA). A paper record of all other beneficiary outputs is filed in the Information Advice & Guidance office. This information can be made available on request.

Employment Protection Advice was given to 26 beneficiaries through 65 sessions of support that included workplace meetings, representation and legal advice. The support has helped protect 5 jobs with ongoing assistance continuing.  All details relating to the new and existing clients have been entered onto the Business Assistance Master Sheet. A paper record of these details is also held by the Initiative Factory and can be produced on request.

Business Website Design and Development support was given to 15 clients through 45 sessions of instruction and advice.

Young People Assisted into First-Time Employment. During the period, the Initiative Factory Trading Co/CASA helped 7 young people into first-time employment with the CASA Bar/Bistro.

Other activities the programme supported -

Employment – has helped maintain, 8 full-time, 3 part-time and 3 voluntary positions within the Initiative Factory.

Capacity Building – has assisted in ensuring the financial reliability of the Initiative Factory to enable the pursuance of its aims and objectives.

Has helped support a free community based Legal Advice Service, a free Welfare and Guidance Service and a Computer Maintenance and Repair Centre.

Activities planned for the next period 1 ^st January to 31 ^st March 2012- All our efforts will concentrate on finding new ways of funding the work of the Initiative Factory and the Community Advice Service Association. (CASA). The funding for the advice and guidance service which has helped so many Liverpool people over the past 11 years finishes at the end of the year and we are currently looking at ways of continuing the service whilst we await the outcome of new funding applications that have been submitted.

The Committee 3 ^rd January 2012