GMCVO were part of the research team for a study that looked at the impact of community and social connections on people’s ability to access advice and support to resolve social welfare problems.
We led on the case study of Deeplish in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, which was compared to three other distinct areas across England and Wales: Bryngwran, a village on Anglesey in North Wales; the town of Dartmouth in Devon; and three wards in the London borough of Hackney. A report detailing the Rochdale case study will be published shortly.
This study, led by a researcher from Bangor University and funded by the Nuffield Foundation and the British Academy, looked at the impact of community and social connections on people’s ability to access advice and support to resolve social welfare problems.
The research found that sharing a social welfare problem with several friends, family or support services doesn’t always mean the issue is more likely to be resolved.
They found that the size and interconnectedness of people’s social networks provide only limited help in resolving social welfare problems they face. The most important factor is the nature of the problem itself, with benefits and financial problems typically being easier to sort out compared to those relating to housing, social care, special educational needs and mental health. Lead researcher Dr Sarah Nason, from Bangor University’s School of History, Law and Social Sciences explained:
“Debt, benefits, special educational needs, healthcare issues, these are everyday problems that many of us face, and it’s only natural to turn to people you know and trust for help and advice. However, we found that having to talk to more people or support services was an indicator that the problem was more complex and difficult to resolve.”
In total, the researchers conducted individual interviews with 191 people, mapping out who they spoke to on a regular basis, such as friends, family, work colleagues or community volunteers, and who they might turn to with any problems relating to social welfare.
They also spoke to community organisations and local authorities, identifying available sources of formal and informal advice and community support in each area.
The study highlights the important role played by community centres or hubs, which provide vital services to their local community, including social welfare advice. However, the researchers caution that these organisations are often under-resourced and cannot be a substitute for more formal legal advice services.
Read the full press release on the University of Bangor's website.
Read the report in full: https://swladviceandcommunities.com/
