Frequently Asked Questions Find out some of the answer's to Frequently Asked Questions. Here we try and answer some FAQ's, but of course if you do have a question for us use the contact us page. Expand What is Bridge Renewal Trust? Bridge Renewal Trust is a registered Charity (Charity No: 1131941) and a company limited by guarantee, the Bridge offers many services to local residents, organisations and statutory bodies. What does the Bridge Renewal Trust do? The Bridge offers a wide range of services to local people and organisations, it could be health and wellbeing related service such as our complimentary therapies, or the Health at the Hut healthy lifestyles advice and activities, or support on Mental Health via the Haringey Wellbeing Network. We support other local charities and groups through the Community Impact Haringey project. We also work closely with Haringey CCG and the Local Authority on engagement with local residents, of partnering on the safer neighbourhood boards, take a look around our website for more information. How is the Bridge funded? Like many other charities and groups locally, the Bridge often bids for contract work and we are funded to carry out this work by several funding streams, these include, Haringey CCG, LBH, National Lottery and more. How many people work at the Bridge? The Bridge now employs about 35 people, over 70% of those are people who are living in Haringey. The Bridge also has lots of opportunities for volunteers. Who edits the content of the Bridge website? The Bridge has several of it’s team members adding content, news and events to our website, if there is something you’d like featured on our website, that is relevant to our audience use the contact us section of the site to get in touch. How secure is any info I give to the Bridge? All contact information and personal data is stored securely and in line with our General Data Protection Regulation policy. Who is responsible for updating information? If a person wants to have their organisation or service added to the Bridge Service Directory, it is up to that individual or organisation to update any information.
Complementary Health Clinic Expand We provide access to a range of affordable therapeutic services that complement existing medical and social care services available at the Laurels Healthy Living Centre. Find out more
Community Empowerment Programmes Expand The aim of this program is to empower communities and enable them to increase control over their lives. We provide a range of support services including Community Champions, Home from Hospital and Empowerment@theHut early help and prevention services.
Community facilities Expand Our community facilities include the Laurels Healthy Living Centre, Chestnuts Community Centre and Bridge Community Hut, where we have the opportunity to reach over a thousand members of the community from diverse backgrounds every week.
Haringey Wellbeing Network Expand We work in partnership with Mind in Haringey and Tempo Time Credits to develop the capacities of voluntary and community organisations from the faith, housing and sports & leisure sectors to raise awareness of good mental health practices. Find out more
LGBTQI+ Community Network Expand The LGBTQI+ Community Network is a group of both dedicated LGBTQI+ organisations & services and those which work across the whole community (including the Bridge), working together to make Haringey the best place it can be for LGBTQI+ residents. The Network meets monthly to share work and develop joint projects. Current work is focusing on safety, including mapping safe spaces, increasing awareness of hate crime and support for reporting.
Multi Faith Forum Haringey Expand The Bridge Renewal Trust is a member of the Multi Faith Forum Haringey. The Forum meets monthly to discuss issues that faith communities are facing and ways in which they can be supported. The Forum has a contact list of nearly 150 individuals made up from all faith groups within Haringey. This contact list is used to arrange meetings as well as getting important information out to the faith communities of Haringey.
Safer Neighbourhood Board Expand Safer Neighbourhood Boards are in place in every London Borough, bringing police and communities together to decide local policing and crime priorities, solve problems collaboratively and make sure that the public are involved in a wide range of other community safety decisions. In Haringey, the Board consists of a diverse range of community members from the Voluntary and Community Sector, Statutory organisations and lay members. For more information on how you can get involved contact Deborah Williams [email protected].
BAME 9-point action plan Expand In light of the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Haringey’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, The Bridge Renewal Trust, in partnership with Haringey Council, organises regular meetings that bring Haringey’s BAME community organisations and other statutory partners together to develop practical solutions to the problems. If you are interested in attending the next meeting and contributing to this work, please email [email protected]
Community Protect Expand Groups and organisations across Haringey have come together under the banner of ‘Community Protect’ to strengthen local messages about COVID-19 and to help slow the rise of coronavirus in the borough. The Community Protect alliance is coordinated by the Bridge Renewal Trust, Public Voice and Mind in Haringey, with financial support from Public Health in Haringey. Find out more here
Home Cooked Expand This is a partnership project to help tackle youth crime and violence in Tottenham Hale. This provides a range of initiatives for young people and their families such as sport provision, employment support, a future leaders programme and mental health support. This partnership is led by the Bridge Renewal Trust and Haringey Council with the Godwin Lawson Foundation, the North London Partnership Consortium, Father 2 Father CIC and Mind in Haringey. If you wish to find out more, please email: [email protected] Click here to see a list of Haringey’s wider networks and forums
Haringey, Here to Help - Haringey Council’s information hub and helpline Expand If you know someone who is finding it hard to keep on top of rising costs, please direct them to the Haringey, Here to Help webpages to find out what support is available or encourage them to call the Financial Support Helpline on 020 8489 4431.
Funding for VCS organisations Expand We have collated below some relevant funding opportunities available to VCS organisations. If you need support to apply, please contact us at [email protected] Some tips from our team Here are some steps you can take now to help deal with the increase in costs. When applying for funding, take into account any increases that may occur due to the crisis and reflect that into your budget. In addition to looking for new sources of funding, organisations may also be able to contact current funders to check the possibility of discussing further support to mitigate financial impact resultant of the cost-of-living crisis. Consider exploring other ways of getting funding, such as crowdfunding and match funding opportunities. Short term funding/small grants The National Lottery Community Fund – Awards for AllYou can apply for funding to deliver a new or existing activity or to support your organisation to change and adapt to new and future challenges, including mitigating the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Together for London Programme Apply for up to £10,000 to support your organisation through the cost-of-living crisis. Organisations must be responding to the immediate impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on the communities you support, particularly communities hardest hit by the crisis. Part of the grant can be used to support the resilience and sustainability of your community organisation, including salaries, rent and bills. Magic Little GrantsLocalgiving has teamed up with the Postcode Community Trust to provide the Magic Little Grants programme. The fund provides small charities and community groups with grants of £500 for projects that address a range of community, social, environmental and health issues including preventing or reducing the impact of poverty. PropelOne of three priority areas is ‘Robust Safety Net’ - Ensuring every Londoner is able to access the support they need to prevent or alleviate financial hardship and building a strong and sustainable advice sector. Grants range from £500 - £2000. Apply for a grant – Tesco Community GrantsTesco Community Grants are prioritising helping projects that support food security. Asda Foundation - Cost of Living GrantsThis grant is designed to support the increased running costs groups will face between September 2022 and February 2023, including rent increases and electricity cost rises. There are two options within this grant. Groups must be clear from the outset which option they intend to apply for: Increased rent and utility bill support Increased food costs support London Catalyst Grant ProgrammesProject grants - Priority is given to new initiatives and service developments targeted at people disadvantaged as a result of long-term ill-health, disability and poverty. Normally to organisations with an income <£500k. Grants range from £1,000 to £5,000. Samaritan Grants - Hardship fund available to frontline health, social work and advice agencies to offer immediate assistance to people in an emergency. The partner agency distributes small one-off grants on London Catalyst behalf. Rosa - Voices from the FrontlineThis fund offers one-year grants of up to £7,000 to support campaigning and influencing work that enables women and girls to use their voice to achieve change. With the rising cost of living and global pandemic worsening inequalities and threatening to push back women’s and girls’ rights, Rosa's new fund will support women’s and girls’ organisations to deliver activism and campaigning, particularly at the grassroots, and raise awareness of the issues they face. Find out more about the fund here Peabody Community Fund Applications are currently open for the Peabody Community Fund. Haringey is one of 8 target boroughs and groups can apply for up to £15,000 per year over 2 years. Crowdfunding opportunities Sport England – Active TogetherFunding available to support clubs and local organisations to set up and run their own crowdfunding campaign, with a potential financial pledge to help them towards their crowdfunding target. Match investment, of up to £10,000, aims to help organisations start to help themselves on the road to recovery. It's specifically targeted at organisations that have a role in supporting the nation to be active but are experiencing short-term financial hardship, or the ceasing of operations due to a crisis. Aviva Community FundThe Aviva Community Fund helps small charities build stronger communities by focusing on climate change or helping people take control of their financial wellbeing. Organisations with core missions aligned to the Financial Wellbeing funding area can also apply for funding to cover operational costs. Long term funding Longer term funding will help you build resilience into your organisation’s finances. If you need support, when thinking about developing strategies for sustainability or applying for any of these funds, please get in touch with us. City Bridge Trust – Advice and Support GrantsBy awarding Advice and Support grants City Bridge Trust want to achieve the following outcomes: More Londoners have improved economic circumstances. Fewer Londoners experience food poverty. More Londoners access debt and legal services for support before they hit crisis point. They welcome applications for up to five years of funding, and core funding will be considered. Henry Smith Charity - Improving LivesGrants for small and medium sized organisations in the UK to support projects and the running costs of organisations. Funding of between £20K and £70K per year for a maximum of three years is available to established organisations delivering services directly to beneficiaries. Other opportunities NatWest Social & Community Capital NatWest Social & Community Capital offers a helping hand to social ventures looking to scale, through loans, provided with flexible terms and business support. They offer alternative funding to business charities and social enterprises who don't qualify for mainstream loans. Their community business loans offer funding from £30,000 to £750,000 with flexible terms and repayments holidays including access to sector experts. To find out more and receive their criteria, please contact [email protected]
Energy-saving information Expand Money Saving Boiler ChallengeTurning down a single setting will make your boiler work more efficiently, saving around £112 a year for the average household. Warm and Safe Homes adviceNational Energy Action is charity that aims to improve the lives of people in fuel poverty. NEA has developed a series of multi-lingual information leaflets aimed at frontline workers to help provide advice in the communities. These are suitable to distribute at public-facing events and to help you share information with those who need it. Energy Bill Relief SchemeThis scheme will provide energy bill relief for non-domestic customers in Great Britain, including charities and public sector organisations. It will cover energy use for 6 months from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023, and is in addition to the Energy Price Guarantee for households. Organisations do not need to take action or apply to the scheme to access the support. Support (in the form of a p/kWh discount) will automatically be applied to bills and the level of price reduction for each business will vary depending on their contract type and circumstances. For further information, please see guidance here Carbon Champions - Free Energy Saving and Sustainability AdviceWorried about rising energy prices? Concerned about climate change? Reduce your costs and your carbon emissions with FREE energy-saving, cost-saving advice from experts and peer volunteers at The Lordship Hub Community Centre and Roadshow events this autumn. All sessions are free and everyone is welcome. You do not need to be a member of an organisation to attend. Haringey Organisations are encouraged to attend or send their users.
Support available for residents Expand Citizens Advice HaringeyClick here to access Haringey Advice Partnership resources which provide an overview of the financial help available to residents. You can also check the advice section on their website here for more information on the support available and contact their Adviceline open Monday to Friday for free on 0808 278 7966. For anyone requiring support with an issue relating to a private tenancy, please self-refer here Mayor of London HubThis Hub contains information about benefits, grants and discounts you can get if you’re in financial difficulty. Overall government support for the cost of living: factsheetThis factsheet provides a summary of the national government support available to help with the cost of living.
Funding for individuals Expand Here is a list of funding opportunities available for individuals to apply. Essential Living Fund - GlasspoolEssential Living Fund provides general hardship funds, applications must be made via referral agency. Grants to Individuals | Smallwood TrustSmallwood Trust - The Fund supports some of the women who are likely to be disproportionately affected by the rise in the cost of living, prioritising applications from: Women that are single parents Disabled women Women with no recourse to public funds Women who are or who have been affected by domestic violence or abuse Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme supports children and young people who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances, and is delivered by Family Fund Business Services. Chances for Children Grants Chances for Children grants are individually tailored grants of up to £2,000 for children and young people who have experienced a crisis that has recently had a significant and enduring impact on their social and emotional wellbeing and educational engagement. Grants For Older PeopleFriends of the Elderly provides grants to older people living on low incomes. Apply for SupportAl-Mizan Charitable Trust - General Welfare Fund provides small grants to families across the UK, who are facing financial difficulties. Hardship Grants Application Guide - COSARAFHardship grants across a range of themes, prioritising the most excluded people. British Gas Energy Trust Fund Application FormDebt writer off fund British Gas Energy Trust – Individuals and families can apply for grants to clear domestic gas and electricity debts. Before applying to the Trust you must get money or debt advice first. EDF Energy Fund | EDF Energy Customer Support FundEDF provides support for individuals struggling to manage household energy debt. E.ON Next Energy FundE.ON Next Energy Fund is to help E.ON Next customers who are experiencing financial hardship and struggling. Teaching Staff Trust Provides hardship grants to people working in the education sector Grants | Finance Support | Royal British LegionThe Royal British Legion provide support to the Armed Forces community who may need financial support across a range of needs. Grants: England | Family FundFamily funds support families with disabled children in need of extra support, including a range of hardship related support. Family Action's Grants Service: Financial support since 1869Family Action’s Welfare Grants programme aims to help prevent an immediate crisis from spiralling and threatening the stability of families and individuals.
Family Services Expand SEND Parent Carer Forum Friendly and welcoming group of local parents and carers of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, aged 0-25. Location: N15 5BNContact: [email protected] | [email protected] Website Ezer Leyoldos Short and long term support packages to Orthodox Jewish (Charedi) families with children under 18 or 25 years for young people with disabilities. Have an ‘out of hours’ facility to respond to crises. Location: N16 5RNContact: [email protected] | 020 8880 2488 Website CARIS Haringey Support to families with no recourse to public funds. Advice and advocacy support on housing, benefits and immigration. English language classes. Summer play schemes. Weekly drop-in sessions for parents, carers, and children - meet up and enjoy play time, activities, workshops, and music. Location: St Pauls Annexe, N17 0JR. Sessions at St Ann’s Church hall, N15 5JHContact: 02088013004 Website Citizens Advice Haringey Confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. Information and support on issues relating to Debt and Money, Energy advice, Benefits, Housing, Consumer, Work, Health and Social Care, and Family and Relationships. Location: N17 7DNAdvice line: 0808 278 7966 Website Haringey Community Food Network Emergency food provision: food banks, community kitchens, plus veg box schemes, growers, delivery services. You can access the Food Support Map to find your local community food group; you can search using the map, by postcode or simply using the list to find details of how to access these services. Website Home-Start Haringey, Hackney and Waltham Forest Home visiting intervention, friendship, practical and emotional support (2-4 hours per week) to families under stress and experiencing difficulties, and family crisis. Upskilling programme of training and personal development for volunteers, most of whom are parents. Location: N17 7QAContact: 020 8352 4151 | [email protected] Website
Children's Services Expand Wheely Tots Programmes & activities promote healthy, confident, resilient communities through improving connections to each other and the outdoors. For families, children and young people these include: Parent and Toddler (ages 2-4) balance bike sessions Family Bike Club for 4+ year olds and adults to learn to ride / improve skills Women and Girls (13+) bike rides Book your session on EventbriteLocation: Lordship Rec, N17 6NUContact: 07397 902255 | [email protected] Website Groundswell Arts Creative education programmes for 0-11 year olds, their families and teachers, incorporating music, art, theatre, storytelling, dance and film making. Location: N4 3EXContact: [email protected] Website Haringey Learning Partnership Support schools to enable learners of all ages to make changes and thrive in mainstream settings. Work collaboratively with learners, staff and parents/carers using a trauma informed approach to add pastoral and leadership capacity. Find out more about their outreach services hereReferral forms hereContact: 0208 829 9846 Website Markfield After school clubs and holiday playschemes where disabled and non-disabled children play together. Free specialist advice on topics such as: disability benefits, behaviour support, transition to adulthood. Parent group coffee mornings and a monthly family club. Location: N15 4RBContact: 0208 800 4134 | [email protected] Website
Youth Services Expand Hope in Haringey Enhancing the life chances of Haringey's young people. Services include: counselling in 27 schools; One to one employability mentoring; Youth work by doing diversionary football; and Police engagement. Download flyer here Location: N17 8AAContact: 020 8809 3411 Website Paths Through Change Promotes the rights of Children and Young People who are experiencing divorce or relationship breakdown in their families. Provides specialist support services including advocacy and befriending schemes and events. You can find out more about the services here Contact: [email protected] Website Sister System New model of working with girls and young women (13-24 years old) who have been affected by the care system (in care, care leaver or cusp of care), providing eight tailored programmes designed to embed essential skills, tools and strategies that enables them to avoid or recover from the unique risks girls affected by care face. Location: N17 8AAContact: 020 8059 1055 | [email protected] Website
Mental Health Expand Open Door Free psychological therapies for young people aged 12 to 24. Therapies can help with a range of concerns, including problems at home, school, college, work, difficulties with family and friends, issues with drugs or alcohol, depression, anxiety, self-harm, anger or violence. Download flyer here Parenting Teenagers Project allows parents to talk in confidence with a trained professional, providing space to think, talk and be heard. Download flyer here Location: N8 8PLContact: 020 8348 5947 | [email protected] Website Mind in Haringey Advocacy and social prescribing, peer support, and wellbeing activities to adults and young people 16+ year olds. Aims to develop young people’s understanding of their own wellbeing, providing them with tools to improve their emotional resilience. Referral forms here Location: N4 3QFContact: 0208 340 2474 (option 1) | [email protected] Website
What do we mean by co-production Expand To tackle health inequalities we must share power more equally between those who provide services and people with a lived experience of the challenges facing us in the community. Co-production and community empowerment values technical expertise and cultural understanding, where everyone's skills and personal resources are respected and put to use. We go beyond asking for ideas, experience and opinions; co-production requires collective actions that are inclusive and reciprocal from start to finish. We work with experts by experience, and professionals to influence, participate, and lead services. From co-designing solutions that reflect the needs in the community, to supporting co-implementation and co-governance of activities, and sharing the responsibility of evaluating the impact of our work. We encourage the organisations and institutions we support and partner with to embed co-production values and practices in their work. Ref: SCIE, July 2022 Co-production: what it is and how to do it | SCIE 'Co-production is not just a word, it is not just a concept, it is a meeting of minds coming together to find shared solutions.’(SCIE, July 2022)
Toolkit and Quick Guide: How to empower local people and support co-production Expand Together with our grassroots community groups, we have developed a Toolkit and Quick Guide: 'How to empower local people and support co-production'. This guide aims to improve and increase involvement of Voluntary and Community Sector grassroots groups and residents in health and wellbeing activities. Click here to read digitally or request a hard copy here
Haringey Food Network Expand This network is made up of community organisations that offer food-related services as part of their overall offer to residents such as food aid, food growing, food education, schools, local businesses. The network engages with partners and stakeholders such as Haringey Council, Citizen’s Advice Haringey, GLA, Sustain, Haringey Community Food Network (HCFN). These organisations come together to support each other, identify upcoming challenges and share knowledge, news and ideas with the ongoing mission to tackle food injustice. To find out more please email Alice, [email protected]
What is an emergency Expand In Haringey, an emergency could include: Click here for more information on Haringey Council’s website.