Here is a message from our next cause in the 12 Days of Christmas - Richmond Aid

We are an established charity, run by and for disabled people in Richmond and surrounding areas. We support the most vulnerable people in our community: people of all ages with all disabilities, including physical and sensory impairments, mental health issues and learning difficulties.

Our aim is to support disabled people to live independent lives and to have the same opportunities as non-disabled people.

We seek to address the inequalities disabled people face, such as social isolation, difficulties accessing transport and accurate information, and overcoming obstacles to securing jobs and financial barriers as a result of losing employment

Changes to the disability benefits system and local housing policy have caused real hardship for disabled people, plunging them into debt, poverty and social exclusion.

Exacerbating this terrifying situation is COVID-19, which is increasing levels of anxiety, confusion, poverty, social isolation and fear. As a result, our crucial services are busier than ever. We are also seeing increasingly complex cases.

Our diverse range of services includes:

Benefits Advice: a free service which helps disabled people and those with long-term or terminal conditions, frequently in crisis, to secure benefits, including help with form-filling and appeals;

Money Advice: our advisers help people in financial difficulty who have, for example, large debts; no income; received a bailiff's notice; and whose benefits have been stopped, by exploring options to resolve their issues, ensure they have enough money to live on and can plan for the future;

Counselling: a low-cost service for local residents on low incomes or benefits with disabilities and long-term health conditions. We are the only local organisation accepting counselling referrals for people with learning difficulties;

Information Navigation: working closely with partner Age UK, we provide confidential advice and support free of charge on many subjects, including housing, benefits, grants, health, employment, education, social care, independent living, transport, mobility, access, aids and adaptations;

Peer Support Job Club: our friendly group, led by our staff members, meets regularly to support disabled people into employment, volunteering and training;

BuddyUp: we match young people aged 14-17 with disabilities or additional needs with a volunteer buddy who supports them to access activities and learn life skills, such as using money and travelling on public transport, while building real friendships;

Spade: our gardening project provides basic gardening services to disabled, elderly, housebound and socially-isolated local people who are not in a position to tend their own gardens.

Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 we have created, and are running, additional services. To help deliver them, we have recruited more than 200 volunteers, including counsellors, befrienders, shoppers, food packers and food delivery drivers.

Our new services include:

Our food hub for people who are shielding and/or cannot afford the extra expense of food;

Our COVID-19 helpline, staffed remotely by our advice teams;

Our shopping and prescription delivery service, which supports hundreds of people who otherwise would be unable to cope;

Our befriending service for people with complex needs: we have to date matched more than 100 people with a friend;

Accessible Money and Benefits Advice services: we have converted two rooms in our offices into Zoom Rooms, where beneficiaries can talk safely, remotely and confidentially to our advisers.

We are the only organisation in the borough to be accredited by the Advice Quality Standard (AQS) across all areas of disability casework and debt advice. We are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority and have ISO:9001 certification.

Both of our Money Advisers have completed their Money Advice training to the highest level (Supervisor), enabling us to retain our Debt Advice Quality Mark with the AQS.

More than 95% of people accessing our advice services describe them as 'excellent.'

For our clients, we are a lifeline. "Richmond AID is helping me save my life," said one. "When I left today, I felt a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders," said another.

Check out our website HERE