The latest Council update is below:
Here is our regular update with a focus on activity as we prepare for winter, including migration to Universal Credit from legacy benefits, Welcome Spaces, the annual Christmas Shoebox Appeals, Baby Week 2023, an update on the Healthy Holidays programme and the recent launch on the 3rd Sector strategy, and the usual national and local updates and social media messages to share.
Legacy Benefits move to Universal Credit (UC)
‘Move to Universal Credit’ is the DWP’s name for Managed Migration, the process by which the DWP ensures the move to UC from legacy benefits by informing claimants that they must claim Universal Credit. This means benefits such as Child and or Working Tax Credits will be terminated. Claimants will get a Migration Notice, a letter from the DWP outlining that legacy claims are due to cease with a deadline of 3 months in which to claim UC, alongside other information about UC and the claims process. Anyone affected can find out information and seek independent, free and confidential advice through one of the following: Leeds Money Information Centre or organisations listed on the Money, Debt and Benefits website can also offer benefit checks and advice on eligibility, help with making a claim, and specialist support for mandatory reconsiderations and appeals. Additionally, LCC’s Welfare Rights Unit: 0113 376 0452 (Monday – Thursday: 9am to 4.30pm | Wednesdays: 10:15am - 4:30pm | Friday: 9am to 4pm) can help, you can email them on [email protected].
Welcome Spaces (previously known as Warm Spaces)
Our Hubs and Libraries launched their Welcome Space offer on Monday 30 October for this winter. Learning from feedback, these will offer a variety of activities including food, social and local connections. There will be more of these spaces, again delivered by third sector and faith-based organisations, hopefully all in place by mid-November. The Leeds Directory will feature and map these and there is information about offering a Welcome Space on Doing Goods Leeds, with an Expression of Interest form can also be found here. If you need additional information or have a question about Welcome Spaces, please contact: [email protected]
Christmas Shoebox Appeal
Anyone wishing to donate can drop off their box around designated points in Merrion and Civic Hall from the 4 – 7 December. The team coordinating the appeal will continue to work with schools in more deprived areas and let school leaders make the decision about which children they feel is in-need of a shoebox. The schools that have been donated to in the past provided extremely positive feedback and it really makes a positive impact to some. Remember: make sure the box is filled with age-relevant gifts, and wrap the box up open so it can be checked and matched with a child. This handy YouTube tutorial shows you how to wrap a shoebox up so it can be opened and checked.
Baby Week
Child Friendly Leeds and partners bring you Baby Week for the eighth year running. Baby Week is an initiative aimed at bringing sectors and services together to promote the ‘best start’ in life. From a small Leeds initiative, Baby Week is now a national charity taking place in 9 regions – so that’s 1000+ events happening across the UK with many babies, families and professionals. The theme for 2023 is ‘Culture & Identity’ and we’re excited to have The Tetley as our main partner. The Annual Opening Event on Tuesday 14 November where everyone will enjoy a sensory experience combined with an art exhibition and Beatrice Lee Knowles will bring an interactive, colourful installation especially for little ones in-line with LEEDS 2023. The event will be free for people to drop in with stalls, workshops and activities, exhibitions, parent panel, speeches and many exciting goodies. Please promote the week of events from free sessions across libraries, children and leisure centres as well as organisations across the city.
Healthy Holidays 2024 Schools & Third Sector Applications Now Live
The Healthy Holidays funding round for 2024 is now live. Now in its seventh year, the Leeds Healthy Holidays programme aims to provide a wide range of enriching activities and nutritious meals for children and young people in receipt of free school meals, over the Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays. This fantastic programme is open to all schools across Leeds and are welcome to apply to run Healthy Holiday provision with funding up to a maximum £60,000. The application window is open from now until the 24 November 2023. Schools can apply here with guidance on how to complete the application, which can be found here. Our partner, Leeds Community Foundation, have also opened their funding round for community organisations, with their application window open from now until the 24 November, apply here.
Local and National developments:
- Community Christmas call companions – a calling service run by Re-engage – offers lonely and isolated people (aged 75 & over) the opportunity to join a dedicated telephone befriending service throughout December
- Housing Leeds send monthly email updates to tenants, sharing key messages about their service and other help, support and useful information. A copy of the issue shared on the 13 October is available to view at: Housing Leeds Update – 13 October 2023 (govdelivery.com)
- The LGA have launched their new ‘Step Ahead’ campaign, which aims to improve direct support for care leavers, and is encouraging SME’s to join in by signing up to the Care Leaver Covenant (CLC)
- We continue to monitor Oflog’s ongoing development. This includes the next set of draft metrics which have been circulated to all councils. The metrics include organising targeted webinars involving small groups of local authorities with similar characteristics, to share experiences and approaches to delivery of particular services, and continuing to build the Data Explorer to eventually cover the breadth of local authority service delivery. It was also announced that Oflog’s interim CEO – Josh Goodman – has been given a permanent role
- The UKHSA has stood up its winter campaign – ‘get winter strong’ – encouraging the take up of flu and Covid vaccinations
