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Greenwich Supports strategy

Priority 1: Lessen the impact of poverty and the chances it will get worse

Based on the current level of poverty and needs in our local area, it’s important to bring together all available resources to help people address the short-term material and financial impacts that arise from unexpected life events and persistent poverty.  

Our challenge

How might we pull people out of crisis and relieve short-term pain by acting immediately to stabilise the situation for them?  

Intended outcomes  

Staff are able to offer effective help by following Greenwich Supports principles. We hope to see improved individual and household stability in life, including: 

  • Housing (keeping a roof over people’s heads): increased access to safe, sustainable, affordable housing and reduced need for homelessness support and temporary accommodation.  

  • Control and capabilities: greater control and confidence in seeking help, reducing food and fuel poverty. 

  • Health: reduced stress that leads to improved physical and mental health by resolving urgent and emergent situations.  

  • Income: higher income and benefits for individuals and households. 

  • Employment: greater likelihood of secure employment and increased pay. 

  • Social stability – better capability and capacity to form and maintain healthy relationships. 

How we will do this 

Priority 1.1: help people maximise income and financial wellbeing  

  • Help residents access unclaimed benefits and address financial drivers of poverty (income sources, debts, financial management, work barriers such as child-care) 

  • Normalise the benefit system as part of social security and reduce the stigma and shame around it. 

  • Identify and support those in need, focusing on people experiencing life changes.  

  • Use data and relationships to pinpoint residents who could benefit from income maximisation and holistic support. 

  • Start with residents in debt to the council who are likely to pay. Pilot a multi-disciplinary Greenwich Supports team, integrating financial support with housing, employment, health and care support.  

  • Use accessible language to boost uptake of available support and benefits.  

Priority 1.2: help everyone offer good help by making Greenwich Supports everyone’s brand and responsibility through partnership working

  • Empower frontline staff and community partners to make every ‘here and now’ interaction count. This can be done by providing immediate, non-judgmental, strength-based, and preventative support, rather than simply signposting.  

  • Equip staff with up-to-date information, local support-oriented knowledge, and training to help embed Greenwich Supports principles. 

  • Foster a culture where early intervention and prevention are seen as everyone’s responsibility.  

  • Expand existing training to embed Greenwich Supports principles and prepare the workforce to support residents effectively. 

  • Run a series of ‘Make Every Opportunity Count’ and ‘Good Conversations and Good Help’ training. 

  • Target messaging and tailor the knowledge for staff and community partners to grow awareness of all available support on offer.  

Priority 1.3: curate high quality, joined-up and actionable advice around life events to help residents relieve crises, help themselves and seek help where needed

  • Make benefits and support easy to find, understand, and use for residents, community partners, and staff by decluttering fragmented information. 

  • Provide high-quality information, advice, and guidance both online and offline to ensure support is seamless across channels.  

  • Spread targeted advice using social media, our printed publications and resources as well as through local networks. 

  • Review the Greenwich Supports section of the website and design more relatable advice around life events, points of crisis and needs. 

  • Provide bite-size advice to reduce overwhelming residents and instead helping them access relevant support. 

  • Use inclusive and clear language to reduce stigma and encourage timely support-seeking. 

Priority 1.4: review the council’s direct financial support and promote a cash-first approach where suitable, ensuring it adheres to the proportionate universalism principle

  • A cash-first approach: provide people directly with money, pathways to money, or vouchers. This offers effective and dignified support for those facing short-term financial hardship.  

  • A proportionate universal approach ensures financial support is universally accessible but scaled to match needs and circumstances, while staying within the council’s budget. 

  • Review the council’s emergency support, Council Tax Support, Discretionary Housing Payments, and Pupil Benefits schemes to ensure they are affordable and follow a cash-first, proportionately universal approach.