Debt and Benefit Project - Llanelli

The Llanelli Communities First Debt and Benefit Volunteering Demonstration Project has been funded by the Welsh Assembly Governments Outcomes Fund and Carmarthenshire County Council to deliver Debt and Benefit Support services run by volunteers throughout the Communities First wards of Tyisha, Glanymor, Llwynhendy, Felinfoel and Bigyn 4. The project will also support general volunteering to up-skill and re-train residents of the wards with a view to finding employment.

What is DAB?
DAB stands for Debt and Benefit and is short for our full title of Llanelli Communities Debt and Benefit Volunteering Demonstration Project.

Where do we work?
We work in the Llanelli area in the Communities First wards of Glanymor, Tyisha, Bigyn4, Llwynhendy and Felinfoel.  We are currently running outreach sessions in all of the Communities First Offices within the wards and have begun to link in with Family Centres and other projects or community events and activities to get the project into the areas we need to be in to make support services easier to access.

The project has also been working with Her Majesties Court Services to pilot a signposting project called the “Problem Solving Initiative” in the Llanelli Courts to help people find support and help.

The project has a permanent office in the Glanymor & Tyisha office where people can come to discuss volunteering with project staff or find support with other issues from our volunteering team.

Who we help?
We help residents of the Communities First wards of Glanymor, Tyisha, Felinfoel, Llwynhendy and Bigyn 4.

We will try and accommodate people by seeing them in their own wards where possible but can also see people in the other wards if they do not want to get help on their own doorstep.  Volunteers who also come from Communities First wards will not have to offer support to their own neighbours and will offer support in the other areas we work in.

How can we help?
We do two things as a project:
1) Project staff help people to volunteer in different ways.
2) Project staff and DAB volunteers support people with debt and benefit problems.

Do you want to Volunteer?
You can contact Bryony or Chris if you would like to volunteer.  We will help you find a volunteering role you would like to do either with us on the project or with other organisations who offer volunteering opportunities.

By offering you ongoing support we can help you find training to do the role you wish to undertake and if you want to return to work we will help you get even more support from the other services that are working in Llanelli to help people get back to work.

The DAB project will undertake CRB checks for people who will be working with vulnerable people and children.

Do you need help with Debt problems? 
If you have problems with debt and you don’t know where to start feel free to call as our volunteers and project staff will support you to organise yourself and help you access the other support services that work in the Llanelli area that may offer specialised support where needed.

Are you getting what you’re entitled to?
A lot of people are entitled to a benefit or tax credit that they don’t know about.  If you want to know if you are getting everything you should be then our project staff and volunteers can undertake a check on your behalf.

Example:
• You might be entitled to Housing and Council Tax benefit if you are on a low income.
• If you are over 65yrs and need support and assistance you might be able to claim Attendance Allowance.
• If you are caring for someone who is getting Disability Living Allowance you might be entitled to Carers Allowance.
• There is a variety of benefit support that young mums might be entitled to.
• If you are working you might be able to apply for Working Tax Credits to top up your wage.
• You can claim Child Tax Credit without claiming Working Tax Credit providing you have at least one child and are in receipt of Child Benefit.
• Are you entitled to Pension Credit? Have you checked?
• There are also other grants available, dependant upon your circumstances, to help with winter fuel costs or insulating your property.

The information is yours to take away; if you find you are entitled to another benefit or tax credit we will find out what form you need and where you can get it from. 

If you want help to get hold of the form then we can also help here and will help you understand and/ or complete the form.

Please call, if we can’t help then we will try and find someone who can
*********This service is confidential*********

For Help Contact:
If anyone from Glanymor, Tyisha, Llwynhendy, Bigyn 4 or Felinfoel has an interest in volunteering or wants to talk about debt issues or needs more information about benefits
Contact details: Bryony Wiffen or Chris Hern on 01554 777850
Between: 8.45am – 5.00pm Monday – Thursday
                8.45am – 4.30pm Friday
Main office base: Glanymor & Tyisha Communities First, 26-28 Inkerman Street, Llanelli, CARMS. SA15 1SA