Help line continues to answer call of people in despair

THERE is rarely a quiet moment for the teams working at Torbay Communities, but it is still important that we occasionally take time to step back and take stock.

As we move into another year (financially speaking) we have been planning for what is coming up right through to March 2025. Crystal ball anyone?

Times are hard in the voluntary community and social enterprise sector (VCSE), of which Torbay Communities is a part, as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis continues to take its toll on organisations across the bay. Life has never been easy in the VCSE sector, but financial pressures appear to be getting more acute and are exacerbated by an uncertain political future. It is not for any of us in the VCSE sector to make a partisan political point but no matter who is in power the prospect of an election always brings uncertainty and insecurity.

Nonetheless, it is important to plan around what you do know. The services VCSE organisations provide are as important, if not more important today than ever. It is a national issue, but in the bay some of the pressures are even more acute, with statistics showing that we live in and amongst some communities that are struggling more than others.

We know we have some of the poorest communities in the country and therefore face profound problems in people of all ages, as a result.

With the best will in the world, those issues cannot be tackled by statutory authorities alone and the VCSE must continue to work alongside. Funding, whether it be from Government, local government or other sources, is becoming harder to find, not that there has ever been enough to go around.

Charities across the bay are feeling the squeeze and rarely a month goes by without the announcement of another closure, which means a reduction in the support services on offer.

Here in the bay, the VCSE sector has learned to work together to eke out scarce resources and ensure there is little or no duplication of the services and support being offered. Much of that in recent years has revolved around the Torbay Community Helpline. Although the help line was set up in response to the pandemic it was successful in pooling financial resources and expertise.

Although it sits within Torbay Communities it is an ever-expanding partnership of charities, voluntary groups and community interest companies, each contributing its own area of expertise, ensuring the best result with the money available.

Staffed in part by volunteers, the help line continues to live up to its claim – one call, that’s all – in answering queries about anything and everything and ensuring the enquiry is dealt with by the right organisation in a timely manner.

Since its inception in March 2020, it has taken more than 90,000 calls and has helped around 14,000 people. Of the in excess of 17,000 adult social care enquiries, 84% were resolved by the help line.

And it continues to field calls about an increasingly wide range of complex subjects, not least foodbank referrals, mental health issues, financial advice, housing support, bereavement, domestic abuse, health and social care and children, young people and family support.

As well as the expertise provided by our partners we can also seek some of the help and support needed via our own teams and projects, such as the community builders, imagine this, community transport and live longer better.

We are not aware of any other community help lines run in quite the same way and whilst it was born in response to a pandemic, it is sadly busier now than it ever has been. It continues to provide the best and most economical support and advice available from a huge range of experts. If you are stuck for an answer or need help or support, call 0180 344 6022.