Citizens Advice sees steep rise in enquiries about Universal Credit

IN a time when Londoners and the rest of the country are in desperate need of hope, Pat Allerton, also known as Portobello Priest, is providing just that.

The vicar, from west London, has gone viral by singing hymns and offering prayers outside of London hospitals.

A video of him singing outside Charing Cross Hospital has received the best part of five million views on Facebook and he has no plans of slowing down.

He also sang at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and St Thomas’, where the Prime Minister is being treated for coronavirus.

Pat spoke about his work as a vicar and what started the viral “hymn and a prayer” sensation.

He said as soon as the Church of England decided to shut churches due to the lockdown, he had to find a way of reaching people.

“As soon as the church couldn’t gather, I thought if people can’t go to the church, the church should go to the people,” he said.

“I had the simple thought of ‘what if I had a speaker and could play some music down the streets’.”

Starting on his local Portobello streets, Pat had has housemates record him as he began singing hymns, such as Amazing Grace, for residents self-isolating in their homes.

“People have been really respect

THE charity Citizens Advice is expecting thousands of Londoners to fall into debt and face issues with housing in the months ahead – and is already seeing a big increase in enquiries about Universal Credit as many more people make claims.

Its 3,400 branches across the country have closed since the coronavirus lockdown began and the charity’s interactions with clients are all happening online and by phone.

Right now they are busier than ever with enquiries from people who, for the first time, are seeking help about how to

able. They join in with the singing. When the music stops, a ripple of applause comes out. I think people realise it really lifts their spirits,” he said.

“It’s a really challenging time, but it’s also having a positive impact because people can see what’s important - your relationships , your family, your health, which workers in society are the most important.

“People are being challenged about the fragility of life and being confronted about their own morality.

navigate the welfare system.

Shirley Springer, chief executive officer of Westminster Citizens Advice, anticipates a sharp increase in people looking for help with debt and housing.

She said: “With all the provision the government has put in place recently, people are not really thinking about their debt commitments,” she said, adding that enquiries about debt have nearly halved while enquiries about Universal Credit have gone up.

“We expect this [debt] to rise dramatically once the Covid-19 crisis is over, and the

“They’re asking the question of what happens next.

“I’m doing this to point to Jesus Christ and help people know they can look to him. I want to bring people hope, peace and joy right now.”

Pat, who has been the vicar of St Peter’s Church, in Notting Hill, for two-and-a-half years, expressed the difficulty that even members of his congregation are facing during isolation and how tough this time is for people struggling with mental health illnesses.

Like almost all religious churches

government’s protective measures are no longer in place.

“Also, we expect our enquiries around housing and homelessness issues will increase too, for rent arrears and possession action and the like.

“People know that landlords can’t evict them for now, but creditors will soon start taking action and people will need more advice.”

Given that nearly a million people applied for Universal Credit in the last two weeks of March, it is unsurprising that residents in the capital are similarly looking for help.

across the country, St Peter’s Church has taken all its gatherings to become virtual due to the lockdown, and will even be gathering virtually for their Easter Sunday drama service.

Pat shared that although his life now is about sharing the gospel in his community and online through his alias, Portobello Priest, he did not grow up around Christian roots.

“I wasn’t always a Christian. I just started having big questions about life and a friend started taking me to talks. I went to a Christian camp and

Westminster CA said 36% of all enquiries are now about Universal Credit, up from 20%.

Enquiries about employment advice have more than tripled from 4% to 13%.

Ms Springer said: “One thing that’s changed dramatically is our Universal Credit Helpline.

“It went live in Westminster about 18 months ago, but we have seen a jump since the coronavirus crisis started.

“A lot of new claims have been brought about by employment changes, with contracts being terminated.

“All sorts of things have

I heard a talk on the evidence for the resurrection,” he said.

“That was 23 years ago and the penny dropped for me. Everything changed from there. I knew I wanted to be a preacher.”

Being able to bring people hope in a time like this is essential work, Pat said, and while he can do so safely, he plans on continuing to bring joy while being a viral sensation.

Pat has shared videos from his hymn and a prayer performance on his Instagram pages – @portobellopriest and @patallerton.

triggered new Universal Credit claims.”

She also emphasised that Citizens Advice works with Westminster Council to help people find work and volunteer opportunities to develop their skills.

“We work with the council to help people into work,” she said.

“We look for opportunities for people to do as a stop gap that might help them into a different career path.

“More people are going to be looking for work because some companies just won’t survive this.”