25/09/2008 : Launch of welfare and benefits surgery

Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) has launched its first welfare and benefits surgery (August 29).

This new service has been created to provide support and advice for vulnerable residents in Brent who receive housing related floating support under the National Supporting People Programme.

The surgery is run by welfare benefits officer Dave Kenyon, who has more than ten years experience in the field of benefits entitlement. Surgery's take place the last Friday of every month and are available to people living in Brent receiving floating support.

Ade Babayemi head of housing support explains: "This resource is a useful facility for vulnerable residents living in Brent regardless of whether they are Brent Housing Partnership residents or not.

"The surgery provides residents that receive floating support with the opportunity to get one to one assistance with benefit matters. The best thing about the service is that these residents do not have to deal with lots of different agencies or officers, they just work with Dave who can take on their case and deal with it from start to finish."

Mr Olajide Olasupo was one of the first residents to use the service he said: "I received good assistance from the welfare benefits officer, he was very helpful and looked through all my paper work and found a discrepancy which may be relevant to my case."

Dave will continue to work with Mr Olasupo until his query is resolved.
The next surgery is Friday 26 September 9 - 5pm on an appointment basis only