Adur and Worthing Use Tech to Identify Struggling Residents

Adur and Worthing Council launch The Proactive project that identifies and helps residents worst affected by the cost of living crisis.

17:49 09 March 2022

Adur and Worthing Councils have recently launched The Proactive project designed to provide support to residents who are struggling due to the cost of living crisis. 

 

As part of the scheme, the councils gather information on a person's benefit status and determine if they have what it takes to get through the crisis without support. 

 

Councillor Kevin Boram, Adur executive member for health and wellbeing, said: “Food poverty is an indicator of need and there has been some excellent work from the councils’ Proactive project that has looked into the data of who is most at risk and how we can provide support before people get into more difficult issues.

 

“This support has come in the form of employment coaches, money advice, temporary housing and street outreach. The councils are also working on a broader scale in key areas affecting how well our communities can thrive, such as educational skills, employment opportunities and the wider economy.”

 

The Proactive project, which was trialled in July 2021, has so far identified 150 residents "not coping" and they have since been offered support. Since the trial, the project has expanded to include private accommodation renters in appears and struggling single parents.  

 

Councillor Sean McDonald, Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for health and wellbeing, said: “We recognise that our approach needs to be more than alleviating the immediate need for food, but should also enable more early intervention work to connect people to the wider support and advice available.

 

“This includes help with money, housing, benefits entitlement and access to employment.”