Newcastle’s Labour-led council has launched Active Inclusion Newcastle to help residents withstand the effects of government welfare cuts and prevent financial hardship from becoming a wider crisis.
Developed through the council’s budget process for 2013–2016, Active Inclusion Newcastle brings together financial inclusion, welfare advice, housing support and homelessness prevention. It will help council services and partner organisations provide a more coordinated response to residents who are struggling.
Families across Newcastle are facing major changes to the benefits system alongside rising household bills and continued economic uncertainty. At the same time, government cuts are reducing the resources available to councils and voluntary organisations.
We know that residents rarely experience problems with housing, income, debt and health separately. A missed benefit payment or unexpected bill can quickly threaten someone’s home, affect their wellbeing and place additional pressure on the whole family.
Our approach is therefore based on early intervention. We want residents to receive advice and practical assistance before their situation reaches an emergency. Services will work together around the needs of the individual rather than expecting people to navigate several different organisations without support.
Labour councillors will also use their ward casework to connect residents with appropriate services and identify problems affecting particular communities. That evidence will help us improve local support and continue challenging national policies that deepen poverty and insecurity.
The council cannot reverse every damaging decision made by the government, but we can organise Newcastle’s services so that residents are less likely to be passed from one agency to another or left without help.
Newcastle Labour’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Joyce McCarty said:
“A Labour council should be judged by how it supports people when they face the greatest pressure. Active Inclusion Newcastle will bring services together, intervene earlier and help prevent financial hardship from becoming homelessness or a wider family crisis.”