Extending a helping hand

A service that offers a helping hand to residents in EC1 has now extended into the north of Islington and is operating in Finsbury Park and Canonbury.

The service, called EC1 Connect, was set up by EC1 New Deal for Communities (NDC) in 2005 to assist residents with issues affecting their quality of life such as housing conditions, access to benefits and employment and training opportunities.

Its effectiveness stems from the technique of contacting people directly in their homes by knocking on doors on all social housing estates. Connect advisors identify the problems in each household and refer the residents to organisations that can help. They then follow up the referral with both the organisation and the client until a satisfactory outcome is achieved.

The benefits of this approach have been recognised by housing association Homes for Islington (HFI), charity Cripplegate Foundation and NHS Islington who are funding the extension of the service. EC1 NDC has also confirmed that they will be funding EC1 Connect until the end of the programme in 2011.

EC1 NDC Chief Executive Kirby Swales said:

“The Connect service provides that vital link between residents who are in need of help but don’t know how to get it, and service providers who simply don’t have the resources to seek those people out. It’s been proven to work in EC1 and I’m delighted more residents will benefit.”

Meliesha Lovemore, a single mother who was helped by EC1 Connect, said:

“I was stressed out with five children at home and  Connect helped me every step of the way to get into work. I’m much happier now.”

Since it started in 2005, EC1 Connect has made over 3000 referrals and works with 60 partner organisations.

 It won Neighbourhood Renewal Project of the Year in the Regeneration & Renewal Awards last year.

Find out more at Connect’s website here.