Glasgow Central MP visits UK poverty charity
On Friday 1 July, Glasgow Central MP Alison Thewliss visited the national charity Turn2us to learn first hand about its work to fight UK poverty.
Ms Thewliss is the MP local to the Turn2us helpline service in Glasgow and met with staff to find out more about how the charity helps people in financial hardship to access vital support.
Turn2us helps people who are struggling financially, through its website, helpline and face to face through partners and volunteers.
The charity’s free website – Turn2us.org.uk – includes a Benefits Calculator for people to find out what welfare benefits and tax credits they could be entitled to, a Grants Search to check eligibility for support from over 3,000 charitable funds, and information on other sources of support. The charity also provides a free and confidential helpline service for anyone without internet access or who requires further help.
During her visit, Ms Thewliss met with Turn2us Chief Executive Simon Hopkins and Head of Helpline Services Kirsten McKenzie, and spoke to the helpline advisers about the calls they receive and the issues people in financial hardship are facing.
Ms Thewliss said: “I was delighted to visit Turn2us and learn first-hand about their useful advice and valuable information on a range of grants and funds. Organisations like Turn2us provide vital support and information at a time when the UK Government are implementing major welfare reforms.”
Simon Hopkins, Chief Executive of Turn2us said: “It was a pleasure to meet with Ms Thewliss to share how we are helping people in financial hardship across the UK and the impact this has had on their lives.
“We know that much of the help that is available through welfare benefits and charitable grants still doesn’t get to those who qualify for it and we need to change that. Raising awareness of this support is so important, and by working with MPs across all parties, charities and other organisations, we can continue to help spread the word and make this help as accessible and prominent as possible.”
Ms Thewliss also recently pledged her support at a special event in Westminster for the charity’s #BenefitsAware campaign, which aims to raise awareness of welfare benefits for people in financial hardship. The campaign findings revealed that half of low-income households in Scotland are not claiming the welfare support they could be entitled to, with 86% saying they have seen no improvement to their financial situation in the last year.
For more information, please visit Turn2us.org.uk.
