Suzana Karakashi, a Resident Support Officer, at Wandle explains:
"Our resident support team has worked tirelessly to support our most in need residents through our Helping Hand Fund. We recognise that many of our residents are really struggling due to the current cost of living crisis.
"Ms SW is a very vulnerable resident who lives with multiple health conditions, including having to endure dialysis six times a week. She recently had moved into a new property and needed some help buying new furniture to make it comfortable and homely. Due to her ill health, she struggled to access a Helping Hand Fund form, so the team completed it on her behalf as an emergency and it was quickly authorised by management.
"She was awarded £600 in Argos vouchers to help towards purchasing a new bed and white goods and £200 in Sainsbury’s vouchers for food and other necessities like cleaning products. In addition, she was referred to social services who are now providing support with day-to-day tasks.
"However, after few weeks Ms SW contacted the neighbourhood team to say she was struggling financially and that her cooker had broken down and after having spent a great deal of money on moving, she was unable to put food on the table. Due to the special circumstances and increased vulnerabilities, the second application was accepted, and she was awarded an additional £250 in Argos vouchers to purchase a cooker so she may cook healthier meals for herself, as well as £100 in Sainsbury’s vouchers for fresh food which she needs due to the dialysis.
"The total funds awarded to Ms SW were £1150."
