Information and Advice:
The I & A Team operates an Information Point
Monday to Friday 9.30 1pm at the Venton
Centre. They can assist with a range of queries
and concerns including:
· Welfare benefits
· Consumer issues
· Housing & care options
· Health matters
· Local concerns
The system that operates here is a type of triage
system. Leaflets and quick queries are dealt
with at the Reception Desk; more difficult or time
consuming questions are taken by the
Information & Advice advisers in the morning.
The more complicated or involved queries are
dealt with by the Head of Department or one of
the Co-ordinators. We deal with queries that
cannot be resolved in a day but can be resolved
without a visit. If we cannot immediately provide
an answer we will research the enquiry and get
back to the client, as soon as possible.
If you require specialist advice we can, with the
client's permission, refer them to a relevant
organisation such as Social Services, Trading
Standards, Department of Work & Pensions and
Citizens Advice Bureau, etc, where they can be
appropriately advised. Alternatively, there are
various free professional services provided at the
Venton Centre available on different days and
times of the month, with a booking facility
through Reception: Financial Advice, Legal
Advice, Will Writing, Pensions and Tax Advice.
Outreach:
This service provides information & advice to
people out in the community, in the areas
surrounding Eastbourne. It is also for people
who can't get in to the Venton Centre or don't
wish to travel in to Eastbourne. Enquiries made
by older people or their representatives in
person, when attending an Outreach event can
sometimes be dealt with straight away or a
home visit may be arranged.
These sessions usually "piggy-back" on to
existing sessions eg lunch clubs or coffee
mornings, held by other organisations, thus
enabling maximum networking between other
voluntary and charitable organisations and
spreading the word to as many people as
possible.
The aim of the Outreach service is to promote
the well being of older people in and around
Eastbourne, maximise benefit take up and
advise on housing and care options.
The Co-ordinator takes on specific topic cases
referred from the other sections of AGE Concern
Eastbourne, including Housing Options and
adaptation advice.
The Welfare Support Department encompasses Welfare Rights, Information and Advice, Outreach
and Advocacy.