Drop ins
Help for the over 55s at new drop-in sessions
After her husband died suddenly, Mrs P found herself in financial difficulties. Alone, vulnerable and bereaved, she fell into arrears with her rent and bills were mounting up. Her husband had always taken charge of their finances and Mrs P did not know what benefits or help she was entitled to.
An advocate from Advocacy for Older People in Greenwich was able to help. The advocate made calls, wrote letters, accompanied her to benefits meetings and helped her to set up direct debits. Now Mrs P is able to concentrate on recovering from her loss, without the fear that she may lose her home or be unable to afford to go out and see friends.
The help offered to Mrs P is now available to older people at three new drop-in surgeries in Thamesmead, Plumstead and Eltham. Rather than have to telephone, e-mail or be referred, older people can simply turn up and talk to an advocate face-to-face. Follow-up home visits will be arranged if necessary.
Mrs P is only one of many hundreds of older people in Greenwich who have been helped by the charity, which offers support to people over the age of 55 who live in the borough. Advocates are not lawyers: they are people trained to help others speak for themselves and to access services to which they are entitled. Services offered by the advocates include helping to manage finances, making complaints or appeals, filling in forms and getting information.
Advocacy for Older People has been active in Greenwich for more than 12 years, and the new drop-in surgeries are funded by the Big Lottery and the Capital Community Fund.
Contact us
If you, or someone you know, would like help from an advocate please contact us on:
- Phone: 020 8269 0298
- Mobile: 07951 654 286
Or visit us at one of our drop ins:
- First and third Monday every month 10.00 - 12.00
- Walpole Estate, Walpole Place, Brookhill Road, Woolwich SE18 6TR
- First and third Friday every month 10.00 - 12.00
- St Mary’s Community Complex, 180 Eltham High Street, London SE9 1BJ
- You can download a flier about our drop ins (Word document, 103kb)
This work is funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund
