Community Plus contacted Mr P following his discharge from Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. Mr P had several health conditions that were limiting his daily activity, money had become tight, and Mr P was finding day to day living challenging.

Mr P requested help and support with accessing food, household items and benefits. Mr P told us he was of low mood, lonely, isolated and was housebound due to his medical conditions. Mr P also shared that he would like to make friends be more socially active and become more independent.

Mr P had not accessed any benefits and had been living off savings however his savings were now depleted, he was finding life a real struggle.

One of our Community Coordinators made a visit to Mr P in his home and was able to organise an immediate food delivery.  Mr P continued to suffer poor health and made several visits back and forth to hospital, on one occasion ending up in a supported living home for several weeks. On one of the Community Coordinators home visits to Mr P she took along with her an advisor from the Independent Children and Families Service (ICAFS) who support people with financial advice. It soon became apparent that Mr P had not been claiming his state pension.

Working with ICAFS and several other organisations including Jubilee Centre, Welcome Centre, Forget Me Not Children’s Charity, Methodist Homes for the Aged, Saint Vincent De Paul & Dalton Together, Community Plus were able to:

  • Provide clothing, shoes, cleaning products, bedding, food parcels, a washing machine, new sofa, blinds, a key safe and a fridge freezer.
  • Source a cleaning company to provide a deep clean of the property.
  • Supported Mr P to apply for housing benefit and council tax reduction.
  • Support Mr P to access a Luncheon Group.
  • Share details of Silverline telephone befriending service.
  • Undertake full benefits check which resulted in Mr P being granted £12,646 from Department of Work and Pension for backdated state pension which had not been claimed.

Having more financial security has meant that Mr P has been able to purchase additional essentials for his home and pay for a Personal Assistant to support him on a regular basis.

Mr P is aware he can call Silverline telephone befriending service at any time if he is feeling low in mood and would like to talk to someone. Mr P plans to attend a coffee morning at New Church, Dalton when well enough where he can have the opportunity to meet & chat with others.