What we do works

Clara was made homeless Thursday last week.

She was evicted from her home in a neighbouring borough and housed on a temporary basis into a Newham. Clara is an incredibly educated woman – with professional qualifications that most of us can only dream of – a true expert in her chosen field of work.

Nevertheless due to circumstances beyond her control, and none of her own fault she found herself coming to us on Monday having been placed in a single room in Newham with her two children.

When Clara got to us, we sat her down, shared a cup of tea with her, and talked through how we could help. It turned out that most of her life is well under control, she is on maternity leave from a great job – all she really needed was a home.

She said ‘who can I speak to?’

When Clara asked who she should speak to, we were able to point across the room, past the play-do and the ball pit, to Farah, our wonderful housing advisor from Shelter who was, at the time, deep in discussion on the merits and demerits of Lidl nappies at the time!

She and Clara sat down. It was clear that Farah needed to take on her case.

Skip forward three days. And Clara is on her way to moving in to a new home.

Clara has been rehoused.

A week! Now that is how ‘temporary’ we would love all ‘temporary’ acccommodation to be!

Clara and her children are now moving in to a house in a nearby borough, still close enough to the project to visit if she needs any more help.

Don’t get us wrong it does not always happen like this. In fact this is the second time it has happened so fast since we started in June. The vast majority of our cases involve untangling multiple problems around immigration, housing, family etc. But how wonderful when all the stars align and it does!!! When all it takes is finding the right place to go and the right people to talk to.

Working together to get results

So who was involved in getting this result to Clara?

Thank you to the referrer who took quick action to signpost mum to us.

Thank you to mum who made the massively brave step to walk through the door.

Thank you to our team of incredibly dedicated volunteers who welcomed her, gave her tea, and chatted until she felt comfortable enough to share her story, shared lunch with her

Thank you to Shelter who have been insanely supportive even when the project was just an idea and now send the fabulous Farah to us each week.

Thank you to Aston-Mansfield who allow us to operate in their premises.

And thank you to every Newham resident, business and family that support us.

Working together, joining the dots, communicating with other voluntary and statutory organisations.

This sort of multi agency, community focused working (or people coming together to care as it used to be called) is how things get done!

Let”s spread the word, and keep on keeping on!

Why we do what we do

Get involved

Bank Examples	Forms of Identity Needed
Metro Bank	Asylum seekers can apply for a cash account and/or savings account. This requires an Application Registration Card (ARC), proof of address and confirmation of asylum seekers support allowance or other income.
Lloyds	You can apply for a Classic Current account with a BRP, ARC or a Home Office Immigration Status document. Refugees and asylum seekers can apply for a ‘Classic current account’. This includes an arranged overdraft. Fees are charged if you go into your overdraft.
Nationwide	You can get a ‘FlexBasic account’ (basic bank account) and an ‘Instant Access saver’ (basic savings account). They accept BRP, ARC and Home Office Immigration Status document.
HSBC	You cannot open a bank account if you are from outside the EU. They accept BRP but NOT ARC. They accept BRP but NOT ARC.
Monzo	Refugees can open a current account with a BRP and their UK address. However, Monzo do not accept ARC. You can get your benefits or salary (depending on your employer) paid into your Monzo account 1 day earlier.

Saves Time	Make sure there is enough money in your account when the direct debit or standing order will be taken. If there is not enough money, you could be charged extra by the bank.
You don’t need to remember to pay a bill	You must remember to cancel standing orders when you want to stop paying someone regularly.
You will get money back for any incorrect payments for direct debits only.	Sometimes you might think you are setting up a direct debit, but it is actually a recurring payment or continuous payment authority (CPA). Be careful if companies ask for the long number on your card instead of your sort code and account number. This will mean they can take money whenever they think they are owed.
You can cancel a direct debit or a standing order at any time through your online banking account or by contacting your bank.


Magpie Mums say: “Always use direct debits if you can, so you don’t forget to pay and are charged. If you can’t use direct debits, make sure you put the dates when you’re supposed to make payments in your phone calendar.” “I’m used to it. It’s easy on the phone. I try to avoid going to banks.”

Account number	A 10-12 digit number given to your bank account. You can find your account number on your online banking page or on bank statements.
Card Number	A 16-digit number with that is found on the front of your debit/credit card.
Credit Card	A credit card doesn’t spend your money. It spends the bank’s money and you must pay it back. This means you can spend more than is in your account, but you might be charged extra for doing this, especially if you are late paying the bank.
Credit Score	A number that records how likely you are to repay your debts. High credit scores are better as it means financial products such as overdrafts and credit cards cost less.
Debit Card	A debit card is a card that lets you take out money from ATMs and make payments in stores or online from your account.
Financial Service Compensation Scheme (FSCS)	An organisation set up to protect the money you put in bank accounts. If you have a current or basic account, the FSCS will pay you up to £85,000 if your bank goes bankrupt.
National Insurance Number (NI)	The number makes sure that the National Insurance contributions and tax you pay are properly recorded on your account. It also acts as a reference number for the whole social security system.
Overdraft	An amount of money you can spend even when you have no money in your account. It is like a small loan from your bank. Overdrafts are often not free, so you need to be very aware what the costs are before using one.
Personal Identification Number (PIN)	A PIN is a 4-digit number that is given to you with a debit card. This is used when taking out money from ATMs or when making in-store purchases with your card. Never share your PIN with anyone as it could be used to commit fraud.
Security Code	A 3-4 digit number found on the back of your debit/credit card in the signature section. This number will be required for nearly all online payments. The code provides an extra layer of security to safeguard you from fraud.
Sort Code	A 6-digit number that is used to identify your bank. You can find your sort code on your online banking platform, on bank statements or on your debit card.
Standing Order	When a fixed amount that you choose is paid from your account to another person or organisation. This is different from the direct debit as the amount that is paid is the same each time.

Saves time – you don’t need to remember to pay a bill.	You need to make sure there is enough money in your account when the direct debit or standing order will be taken. If there is not enough money, you could be charged extra by the bank.
You will get money back for any incorrect payments for direct debits only.	You must remember to cancel standing orders when you want to stop paying someone regularly.
You can cancel a direct debit or a standing order at any time through your online banking account or by contacting your bank.	Sometimes you might think you are setting up a direct debit, but it is actually a recurring payment or continuous payment authority (CPA). Be careful if companies ask for the long number on your card instead of your sort code and account number. This will mean they can take money whenever they think they are owed.