We work with the most vulnerable members of society, who might otherwise fall through the safety net. Our beneficiaries suffer from multiple levels of deprivation including low educational achievements, high levels of unemployment and low incomes. Illness, disability and mental-health issues are more prevalent than in the population as a whole. Last year two thirds of our beneficiaries suffered from mental and/or physical health issues. We work with people from a range of ethnic minority groups, and a high proportion of people we help are lone parent families.

For most people in Barton, their income has not grown in years, and basic living costs have continued to rise. There is a high level of debt and benefit reliance on the estate. Most are squeezed by cuts to their benefits as a result of welfare reforms and nine years of austerity. In this climate, they struggle to get by.

People come to us for advice on what benefits they are entitled to. They come to us to find out how all the current changes to the benefit system will affect their income, particularly Universal Credit. They come to us when they face life-changing circumstances; loss of a job, the death of a spouse, or a new health condition. People seek our advice on whether they have grounds to challenge a benefit decision and to navigate the appeal process, particularly in relation to disability benefits. People come to us to represent them at tribunal hearings, which they would not be able to face alone. Increasingly, people are coming to us with multiple and more complex issues.