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by Jay Kennedy, Policy Officer, Directory of Social Change
In our November quick survey we asked: Is the recession increasing demand for your services?
The results – 415 responses
- 54% - Yes
- 46% - No
120 written comments were also received. Several themes emerged in the comments that people left.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, a large number of comments related to increasing need for advice services for people who were struggling with debt, loss of housing, and unemployment:
"Substantial increase in debt and housing problems in the last few weeks as well as people being made redundant." RCJ Advice Bureau
"Calls to our Helpline and applications for financial assistance have both increased"
"Debt cases have increased by 266%"
"Increase in number of people seeking CAB appointments or wanting to know where to go for help with debt/bailiffs/evictions"
"Unemployment increases the need for our advice, information and advocacy services; support, referrals and signposting for training and other job search agencies. "
"More people are made redundant or afraid to be made and they are seeking employment help from us."
"More people with debt and financial problems approaching us for assistance and advice."
"Increased numbers of unemployed people are accessing the services, i.e. job brokerage and short employment-focused training. At present, demand from employers in terms of vacancies appears unchanged although we expect this to drop off in the New Year."
"We are experiencing higher numbers of requests from service users requiring advice on benefits, employment, fuel poverty and debt."
"We are a CAB and demand for debt advice has gone up by 100% over the last month. Come the New Year, when Xmas credit bills arrive, we will face real issues around demand levels and available advice resources. Government funding towards debt advice is urgently needed."
"Especially debt advice on rent or mortgage arrears and employment issues."
A number of comments also indicated that services for the most vulnerable people or for basic needs are being affected:
"We help support those in food poverty which, due to the recession and higher food prices, is affecting a wider proportion of the public, particularly families and elderly groups."
"We have seen a 100% increase in our Advice and Information Service for Young People, many homeless young people and young people with additional needs requiring financial support."
"Referrals from agencies to our New Forest Basics Bank for food parcels has doubled compared to this time last year."
"Huge amount of fuel debt questions"
"Impacts of any basic needs costs are felt quicker and harder at the lowest income/benefit dependant level. More requests for emergency food and heating support every week."
Another theme in the comments was the impact on services for people and families experiencing mental or psychological stress because of deteriorating economic conditions:
"We are involved in debt counselling & family support & we are currently seeing clients whose marriages are under pressure, families losing their homes, children & young people caught in these family crises and expect the situation to worsen"
"As people get more concerned this adds to their fears and they need more counselling help"
"We work in excess-stress related problems and demand is through the roof!! But no funding help - particularly from government"
"As we work with people who suffer from depression and other mental illness we are very much in demand but finding revenue very difficult"
"Tension within families increases the need for preventative services and activities for those with lower level mental health needs and domestic violence as a result of recession."
Some people noted what could be seen, perhaps very optimistically, as a bit of a silver lining – increased demand for volunteering opportunities as a result of people losing work:
"This recession has provided more volunteers with the skills to pass on their knowledge to this client group whilst keeping active and the projects where we carryout work are supporting the communities and its infrastructure. We should use this as an opportunity to address local community needs."
"As a volunteer centre, we are beginning to see people coming to us looking for volunteering who have been made redundant"
"There are more unemployed people seeking volunteering opportunities without support from the statutory authorities (i.e. the referral source)"