In 2022, we advised over 30,000 clients on everything from hate crime support to benefit checks. The sensitive nature and demand for our work means we tend to overlook our achievements, so we wanted to take the time to look back on 2022 and share how our organisation was recognised for providing the people of Liverpool with free, impartial advice of the highest quality in one of our most in-demand years yet.
The National Citizens Advice Conference and Awards Ceremony took place in November. There were 5 awards up for grabs, 4 of which Citizens Advice Liverpool were shortlisted for - a great achievement in itself. Our staff are extremely proud to have won the following awards:
Winner of the Championing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award - for the Advising Marginalised Communities (AMC) Project.
Post winning the award, our Projects Manager, Leanne Campbell-Syers,
shared why she nominated this project:
"The AMC project seeks to improve access to advice for Irish Traveler, Gypsy, and Roma communities. We partnered with two local agencies who work directly with these communities and this allowed us to gain a better understanding of the steps we must take to improve accessibility to advice for these under-represented communities. Our adviser Irina has worked hard and delivered advice in a flexible and patient manner, which has led to Citizens Advice Liverpool being recognised as a trusted service amongst these communities".
Winner of the Volunteer Team of the Year Award - Immigration Team
Although the funding for this project has now finished, The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) trained 30 volunteers throughout it's duration was able to support over 5000 vulnerable EU citizens who needed to protect their rights in the UK following Brexit. The team submitted around 1500 applications on behalf of clients, making an enormous impact on the lives of all of these residents by making them a little safer from exploitative situations as a result of the hostile environment policies.
A special commendation to the Citizens Advice on Prescription Team in the Championing Wellbeing Category.
This programme provides all of Liverpool's frontline health staff with access to social welfare and wellbeing support services, whilst also working with over 2500 referred patients a year to build one-to-one wellbeing plans combined with access to our advice services to address practical issues impacting mental and physical health.
We hope our community will join us in congratulating all staff and volunteers for being shortlisted or winning awards at the 2022 conference. A special mention to our winning volunteer team in particular, because as a charity, we rely on your hard work and dedication to keep our service running.
Secondly, Citizens Advice Liverpool received an award for Outstanding Contribution by an Employer to Workplace Health and Wellbeing at the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) Health Awards in December 2022 from a collaboration with Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust. Our partnership with the trust aimed to improve employee welfare by providing referral access to our advice services and wellbeing support to their staff. A shoutout to Ben Towell, Workforce Health and Wellbeing Manager at Merseycare, who submitted the application for this joint achievement award.
Pictured below: Our CEO Heather Jessop with Merseycare NHS Trust at the SOM Awards Ceremony.
A final round of applause to all of those involved in the projects and programmes who were awarded in 2022. We hope to see the same success in 2023!