What A Year: 12 Months of successes during a Pandemic

2020 should have been a new beginning for South West Lancashire ICAN, our Committee Members, Staff and Volunteers were all excited as we were about to start out on a 3 year Lottery Funded Project.

We were moving in to newly refurbished offices at the Ecumenical Centre and our Lottery Project partners, West Lancs ARK, were looking forward to expanding their specialist work supporting ex veterans, homeless and those with drug and alcohol issues. We hit the ground running in January supporting clients from across West Lancs and building up working relationships with numerous statutory and local organisations.

When Covid-19 hit us in March, we were stunned.  How could we deliver our services now? How could the most vulnerable in our community get the best help and support in a ‘lockdown’? At our first Covid meeting we decided we would continue to work from home and developed new and unique ways of supporting our clients, and supporting local organisations, to ensure no one needing welfare rights, employment law or digital assistance missed out. Amazingly we never missed a day’s work.

Thanks to the dedication of our staff and volunteers over the 12 months between January – December 2020 the Lottery Funded Project:

• Dealt with over 1500 clients
• Recovered over £1.91 Million in benefit and employment payments for clients. Money that also supports the West Lancs economy.
• This £1.91 Million supports local shops and the West Lancashire economy
• Supported 42 Homeless people
• Supported 60 Ex-Veterans
• Supported 180 Clients with Drug and Alcohol issues
• Delivered ‘Know Your Rights’ Courses in person and on-line to 31 learners
• Supported 101 organisations including Mental Health Teams from Lancashire and Cumbria, West Lancashire CCG, Social Prescribing Teams

We all hope and pray that 2021 will be better than last year, heaven knows we deserve it.  However, it looks like Covid will be impacting our lives for a long time come, but if any one you know needs our help and support please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will always be there for you providing independent quality advice.

South West Independent Advice Service:

Call 01695 726269

NEW courses starting in March 2021 – Know Your Rights

Find out more by visiting: https://swlican.org/courses.php