A Living Tradition CIC Gateshead Roma Kavárna Project Report for October 2019

We had a client who needed help with acquiring a self-assessment form from the HMRC, so that he didn't have to complete it online.  After a quick call to the Self-assessment helpline, this was arranged.  We also had a client with debt problems and a client with an inquiry about Council Tax.

Another client had problems paying a fixed penalty of £ 300 and was helped with a payment plan.

On another occasion, we had a client was given help with putting together a debt repayment plan. 

We also had a number of families who were helped by the Children's Society with an EUSS inquiry.

One client was given help with putting together a debt repayment plan. 

We had another inquiry regarding an electricity account.

We had a Child Benefit inquiry.

Julie Cooper, a nurse, attended the drop-in.  She was asking about the needs of the community, before attending a meeting. We mentioned the language and cultural barriers, including the conditioning of members of the community following bad experiences in Eastern Europe.  We talked about ways of getting information about the 111 Service, as well as other information translated.  We also had the services of the Children's Society regarding EUSS, who helped one family.

Children's Society have attended each week and helped a number of families with inquiries about Settled Status after Brexit.  We are finding that among other issues there is a major problem with families having to get new passports, especially the cost of doing this.    

We have been working with Roma Rights Path project who are involved with the Roma community and we are getting referrals from them. Consequently we are more becoming even more busy now.

We also had support from Citizens Advice Gateshead.

Clients also enjoyed the friendly convivial atmosphere at the kavarna, while young people from the community have been looked after.

We have continued to give out free food kindly donated by Greggs.

Many thanks again to Greggs, Citizens Advice Gateshead.  NE First Credit Union, Northumbria Police, Gateshead Council, Awards for All and the Allen Lane Foundation.

Peter Sagar, Company Secretary, A Living Tradition CIC, and Irma Karchnakova, interpreter and worker, November 2019