Crosslight’s Spring 2022 Newsletter
This Spring newsletter from Crosslight comes at an incredibly difficult time for many of those we support. The biggest cost of living shock for a generation is hitting everyone to some extent, but for those on the lowest incomes it is devastating, with the IFS estimating that inflation for the poorest households could hit 14% by the Autumn. Every day our team hear stories of people skipping meals, going without showers, and struggling to pay for essentials. Even with the latest package of support announced recently by the government, many are facing a very uncertain and frightening future.
Unsurprisingly we are seeing a significant increase in demand for our service – up 64% in less than a year. We are determined to play our part in supporting those most in need and are increasing capacity wherever we can, but we need help to sustain this.
Before coming to see Crosslight, within the last month
53% of new clients had to cut down or even go without food
53% had to go without gas/electricity
80% said their situation was having a negative impact on their mental health
68% of our clients had to miss payments on their essential bills
“It’s a brand new start for me and it all started with Crosslight… I know that the journey I have ahead of me is much better than where I am coming from… Crosslight is a way to start to rebuild yourself”
Tanya’s Story
Tanya* was referred to Crosslight Advice after seeking support from another charity for a disability benefit application. In her first appointment, she was anxious and tearful when explaining her situation, having recently escaped an abusive relationship and lost her job as a bus driver due to poor health. With debts of over £27,800, including rent and utility arrears, and facing county court action, her emotional state was so low that she wanted to go to jail to escape her life and get the help she felt she needed.
After working with us over several appointments, she found the strength to discuss her emotional and financial situation in more detail. She built a strong relationship with the local Crosslight team and as a result felt as though she finally belonged to a community.
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“One of the things that stood out to me was how comfortable the advisers made me feel - the support that I got was tremendous and at no point did I ever feel like I was being judged... From there on it was how I managed to raise my head up from off the ground”.
Over several months, our team contacted creditors and arranged manageable repayment plans. Tanya has recently finalised a payment agreement with her last remaining creditor and is now actively involved in a number of community groups, something she would have found impossible before. She has also started the journey towards becoming a counsellor and is going to university to study later this year with the hope of supporting other women who are suffering domestic abuse. She is excited to tell everyone about Crosslight and her journey to financial freedom.
“It’s a brand-new start for me and it all started with Crosslight... I know that the journey I have ahead of me is much better than where I am coming from .....Crosslight is a way to start to rebuild yourself”
*When we asked Tanya if she was happy for us to use her name she readily agreed, saying “I am no longer ashamed about the situation I was in.”
Between January and April this year, we successfully secured £389,210 in extra income per annum for our clients and wrote off £574,473 worth of Debt.
Can you help?
It is our privilege to be there for those who need us during this crisis, while also looking beyond the immediate challenges, and equipping clients for the future.
On average, it costs us £480 to provide in-depth advice and support for someone like Tanya. But we need your help to ensure that our services continue to be available for everyone who needs us, and we still need to raise £150,000 this year to meet rising demand. If you are able, would you consider partnering with us and making a regular gift to support our work?
Each appointment with one of our amazing team of advisers and budget coaches includes much more than just crisis advice - as vital though that is. A huge amount of work goes in to ensure the best outcomes for our clients, and we have the great privilege of walking alongside many of our clients to support them as they navigate the challenges they face. For many, this can be life-saving.
If you are able to help, please click on the link below.
Spotlight on Abigail, our Benefits Advisor
Please tell us what you do at Crosslight Advice
At Crosslight I help to ensure our clients are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to. I also provide specialist training and knowledge to the team, as well as supporting clients with more complex appeals and benefit decision challenges.
How are people feeling when they come to you for help?
In the main clients feel frustrated, depleted, and exhausted when they come to me. The benefits system is a difficult system to navigate. Adding to that, many of our clients have vulnerabilities which can make them feel the task is impossible.
What difficulties are there surrounding benefits and people getting them?
The difficulties with the benefit system is that it is ever changing. New regulations, legislation and case law can develop daily which often means clients receive incorrect information which can cause irreparable damage to someone’s entitlement and therefore their income.
What difference do you make to people’s lives?
In many cases, getting the right benefits can turn someone’s life around. For example, one client I was working with recently has severe Mental Health issues, which led to her being sectioned. On release from hospital her benefits had been stopped which left her with no income. And as well as all the other difficulties this caused, having no funds meant she was unable to get to her medical appointments or pick up her medication.
We were able to get Universal Credit in payment, however as she was unfit to work, she also needed to go through a lengthy form and an assessment process. I was able to challenge the assessment process so she was given the correct entitlement straight away. The client was so anxious about the thought of having to go through the assessment process that when I delivered the good news, she wept with happiness. It also means she will be able to manage her debts, her mental health and start to rebuild her family relationships. It was another small reminder of why I love my job!
“Just waiting for the transaction to clear and I'll be debt free!! I can't quite believe it or begin to thank you enough for all your incredible help and advice!!!”
Other ways we are responding
As well as debt and benefit advice, we have many other resources to help people at this time. Our Financial Capability Manager, Lorelei, has worked tirelessly with a dedicated team to offer a wealth of information and support to help those struggling during the cost of living crisis.
Money Course - a course that gives attendees the opportunity to go back to basics and think through both our emotional relationship with money, and the down-to-earth practicalities of managing it well.
Leaders’ Hub - this online resource is designed to equip those who would like to run the Money Course themselves - it contains everything they need to prepare for and deliver the sessions live.
Budget Builder - an easy to use, interactive tool which helps you create your own customised budget and keep track of your day-to-day spending through an app or website.
Budget Coaching - our trained coaches provide individuals with tailored support through their budgeting journey. In the last 6 months, sign ups to our Budget Coaching programme have more than doubled.
Our new ‘Financial First Aid’ workshop equips external organisations and support workers with some keys tools they can use to support their own communities.
Online Resource Hub - which houses a host of hints, tips, advice and guides on how to better manage your money.
Could you Move4Change?
The popular Move4Change 2022 is taking place on 10 September in Hammersmith. The team at our Hammersmith branch would love to welcome new participants, so why not sign up today?
Take in the wonderful sights of the River Thames, raise vital funds and even enjoy a cream tea. What’s not to love about this fundraising event?
Find out more via the link below!
Thank you
We simply could not have continued providing our holistic service and financial education without our committed supporters and volunteers.