A special project has been set-up in Burngreave to help local people who have any sort of problem but don't know where to turn next.
The Burngreave Advocacy Now! (BAN!) project, managed by Pitsmoor Citizens Advice Bureau and funded by Burngreave New Deal for Communities (BNDfC), is now up and running with four part-time advocates who can help people by listening to what individuals have to say on any issue that is causing them difficulty.
Norah Brown, project co-ordinator, said: "We are here to help Burngreave residents with anything that is troubling them. This could be helping people to access services, going to meetings and appointments with them, reading and writing letters, providing language support, negotiating services, helping to fill in forms, providing information that will give them informed choices and assisting and advising on any issue that is affecting an individual.
“Instead of people not knowing where to turn or what to do next, we are providing the ideal stepping-stone to talk though any issues with people and, if needed, point them in the right direction to get them any further help they need,” she added.
Three of the advocates working on the project are bi-lingual. Adel Addoh is Arabic speaking, Shamim Khan speaks Urdu/Punjabi and Farhan Ahmed speaks Somali. In addition, Trevor Carter is proficient in British sign language.
Di Phillips makes up the team and is the projects' administration and finance worker.
John Clark, BNDfC Chief Executive, said: “This project is fantastic news for the people of Burngreave who now have a specialist team to turn to should then need help with anything that is worrying them.”
BAN! is based on floor three at SADACCA on the Wicker. If people from the Burngreave community require help from an advocate they can contact the BAN! office and an appointment will be made to see an advocate. A referral service is also available.
If you need an advocate to assist you please contact BAN! on 0114 275 0262, email: advocacynow@aol.com or drop into the office between 10am and 3pm so an appointment can be made.