Category

• Emerging Local Practice

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Poverty impact

• Mitigation
• Awareness

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Poverty driver

• Increase income from benefits

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Keywords

• Referral
• Resource
• Destigmatise
• Encourage
• Awareness

Aim

The Project aims to:
• Ensure financially vulnerable patients are aware of and able to access anti-poverty initiatives.
• Train staff to identify patients at risk and signpost them to appropriate support.
• Promote money maximisation to reduce health inequalities, prioritising direct financial help (e.g. cash) over reliance on food banks.

Summary

The Community Guiders project identifies adult inpatients at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee (NHS Tayside) who are experiencing financial difficulties. Volunteers and staff are trained, using NES Raising the Issue training with additional local input, to recognise signs of food and financial insecurity. They engage patients in conversations about their circumstances and, where appropriate, offer small grants (up to £50) to address immediate needs such as food, fuel, essential travel, or baby supplies. Patients are actively supported to access the in-hospital Advice Centre, which can help maximise income and address underlying issues. Follow-up is offered, and links with other agencies such as the Energy Agency and Housing Support ensure a wider package of support.

What difference does it make?

The Project has not existed long enough to gauge its impact.

Key take-aways

• Be realistic about how long a project will take to set up and be patient.
• Convincing your host organisation, staff, or potential funders that your project is necessary may take perseverance.
• Be flexible with coordination, as setting up an anti-poverty initiative may involve collaboration with various groups with varying demands on their time.

 

Organisations

NHS Tayside.

Location

Currently delivered within Ninewells Hospital Dundee but may be expanded to other hospitals in the NHS Tayside area.

Approximate start date

Contact