After five years of operation, the need for our service is identified by those who drop in. Users of our services present with a broad range of issues – caring, addiction, how to get access to a food bank, debt, where to find social groups, loneliness, housing, family issues and help with form filling and navigating bureaucracy, e.g. a new phone contract or insurance renewal. Individuals can have a single issue or some will have complex problems. Some are struggling to get help from overwhelmed statutory services whilst others do not know where to start to solve their problems. Some are just lonely and are looking for connection. For others the presenting issue is not the important issue and they need time to build a relationship with a volunteer before disclosing their real needs.
Where someone drops in with a problem we have not dealt with before, volunteers will spend time researching that issue to fully understand it and also find agencies who may be able to help. Our volunteer team are now extremely knowledgeable with specific volunteers being able to support other volunteers.