Future You is a project involving Gateshead Council, Citizens Advice Gateshead, Age UK Gateshead, Youth Focus: North East, 2 Way Tenancy and Connected Voice. We've been catching up with some of our partners, and in this visit, we focused on 2 Way Tenancy.
While we were here we spoke to Gary and his advisor Sihle, who is also the managing director at 2 Way Tenancy. Within Future You, Gary has been receiving advice and support from Sihle with regard to maintaining a housing tenancy. Sihle told us that their social enterprise takes a holistic view of the person who is using their services:
“The Future You programme has given us the opportunity to focus on advice and support engineered around keeping a housing tenancy and we recognise that there are many aspects to that. If a client is referred to us for rental arrears we will look to build that tenant's skills in managing their money; take a wider view of what bills they have to pay, what benefits they may receive, and how this all comes together to affect the initial concern of rental arrears. This holistic approach informs the size and scope of the help and advice we will then look to provide.”
Gary was very clear in the thanks he had for 2 Way Tenancy and especially appreciated being able to see the same adviser when he visits for 1-21- support and advice in a comfortable and confidential environment. Being able to arrange with Sihle about the frequency of his help, was something else Gary noted as a great benefit of the course and of 2 Way Tenancy in general.
Gary says that over time the continuity and exceptional standard of help he has had has gradually reduced his anxiety and increased his confidence to deal with his issues:
“I have so many thanks to Sihle as she seems to help me with everything! I was initially referred here after becoming unemployed after a long time in work and as a result, some financial issues followed. Sihle helped me by looking at what incomings and outgoings I had, and we really forged a plan of what to do. I could not be happier with the help I've received.”
The emphasis on financial capability, and the understanding when someone is struggling financially, it can affect many aspects of their life, such as their mental health, is something that echoes across all of the Future You courses and support options. The services of Future You and 2 Way Tenancy, as well as those provided by our other partners, give a focus to the welfare of the individual. Finding your wings can be anything from alleviating yourself from a bad situation or making moves to get back into work.
Whatever your journey looks like, Future You can support you through it.
