Service Manager, Laura Collins provides an update on how the service is run and the ways it supports the people who use it.

We are funded by Wandsworth Council, so our eligibility criteria is that you live in the borough (or are registered with a Wandsworth GP), you have any mental health diagnosis and you are 18+. We accept referrals from both the statutory and voluntary sector service as well as self-referrals.

We operate the service Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm and deliver sessions over the phone or in community venues such as coffeeshops. We have a weekly drop-in service in Earlsfield and work in partnership with two other local mental health charities to run additional drop ins.

We offer support to manage mental health symptoms, entering education, finding new hobbies and social activities, housing advice and support and benefit advice and support and signposting.

Brian (name has been changed to provide anonymity) is a 36-year-old man with a diagnosis of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  He was referred to Wandsworth Your Way by Wandsworth Talking Therapies for support with benefits.

Brian was a victim of a random stabbing in 2024 which resulted in both physical injuries and mental distress. He lost his job, leading to the loss of his home and car and he was street homeless for a few months.

He managed to apply for Universal Credit under the Limited Capabilities for Work Assessment and applied for housing support on the basis that he was street homeless and was placed in temporary accommodation.

During the assessment it was established that Brian needed support with the following;

• He had recently applied for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit and required a support letter from Wandsworth Your Way as additional evidence
• Support to liaise with his Housing Officer as the accommodation he was placed in was a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and there were issues around not having electricity for periods of time and no repairs being carried out. Brian needed a support letter to be moved to a property that had basic amenities such as electricity
• He required support to apply for a Mental Health Freedom Pass, as he met the criteria due to his diagnosis and the medication he has been prescribed (Sertraline and Zopiclone)
• He required a referral to Victim Support as he felt he needed specialised support after his attack

Wandsworth Your Way completed his PIP and housing support letters, made the referral to Victim Support, completed his Mental Health Freedom Pass application and he has since been moved to more appropriate accommodation.

Brian also needed additional support with a mandatory reconsideration for his PIP as he was not awarded that.  He felt he would rather do this with our service than the service that supported him to fill out the application. This has been sent and he awaits the result.

The benefits of support from Wandsworth Your Way were:

• Improved mental health and wellbeing
• Implementation of coping mechanisms and strategies
• Having a safe space to talk to someone who is not a family member/friend and talk freely and honestly
• Risk assessing service users and supporting with suicidal ideation and referral to crisis services
• Therapeutic services have waiting lists of over a year in some cases – so we often offer mental health support in the interim

Due to the housing crisis our most common reason for referral is Housing support, this can be for many different reasons including homelessness, transfer requests and repair and disrepairs support

We can support service users to apply for benefits including Universal Credit/ Limited Capabilities for Work and Personal Independence Payment as well as Mandatory Reconsideration and appeal applications. Many of our service users need support to register, fill in the forms, advice on relevant evidence and support letters

Many of the people who use our service are socially isolated and need support to strengthen their social network. This can be via our drop ins, other services in or around the borough or looking at their hobbies and interests and sourcing groups and activities.