Connection support services

A charity known as Connection provides floating support across the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire County region. Services are aimed at helping the low income and vulnerable, and everything from referrals to workshops are provided to clients, with the aim to help them live independently.

People who are eligible from floating support from Connection will be assigned a social worker to partner with. This individual will set goals with the participant, and ensure they are followed up on. The assistance is only offered for a limited time, and the client needs to work towards meeting the goals set in place during this time frame.

Clients of Connection come from many backgrounds. They work with families living in poverty, substance miusers, and the homeless. There is also advice for the jobless, those with a learning disability as well as people with a mental illness among others, so the services are wide ranging. To apply or to see if eligible, the phone numbers to ring are below.

Types of support provided by Connection

The charity has three offices in the region, and each may offer different types of assistance. Depending on the results of an assessment done for the applicant, there may be some or all of the following provided to them for their needs.

• Money management include free budgeting advice and how to deal with debt arrears.
• Housing, and advice is for the homeless as well as people in rent arrears.
• Shelter and temporary accommodations are across Oxfordshire, and learn how to access them.
• Help in accessing benefits. Connection support workers can assist with completing form on housing payment, deposit schemes, and other aid.

People with a mental illness can also get support. A specialist from Connection will be assigned one person to work with on housing and medical care needs. One focus of the charity is ensuring individuals with a mental illness are not homelessness, so Connection will aim to address that problem in Oxfordshire as well as Buckinghamshire.

Anyone who is vulnerable can get help from Connection. The floating support is high quality and confidential, and the staff that work at the charity are highly qualified and experienced. Everything possible will be done to help people achieve independence and self-sufficiency, and it is client focused.

Housing is a focus. Other services from connection to address these problems are as follows. The staff will assist with locating and moving into either private or social housing. Many people need financial assistance in paying the rent on these accommodations, so this is when Connection will help people apply either for a council deposit scheme, or assist with applications to a local housing allowance. Every effort is made to help the person gain Independence and increase their motivation and self-esteem.

There are a few centres that Connection operates from, and they are below. If the charity can’t meet the client’s needs, then they may signpost the individual to other programmers.

Oxfordshire County office is at The Pathway Building on Dunnock Way, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, OX4 7EX, call 01865 711267. Other options are Buckinghamshire County is at Claydon House, 1 Edison Road, Rabans Lane, Aylesbury, HP19 8TE, (call 01296 484322). There is a second office at Milton Keynes, E Block EAU3, The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Bletchley, MK3 6EB, dial 01908 363492.