A new information and advice service created to provide free, independent, quality-assured information, advice, and advocacy around health, social welfare, and social care, is now live for Tower Hamlets residents.
Tower Hamlets Connect is a new service co-produced with residents and local organisations, which will help residents access support around health and social care, including housing, welfare and benefits and consumer issues.
The service will also be able to help residents with wider issues, such as anyone experiencing financial difficulty by putting people in touch with experienced advisors. It will also provide in-person support with options to book one-to-one appointments with advisors for advice and advocacy in the community.
John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “Tower Hamlets Connect is a new service which will help our residents get the right help at the right time through the right channel.
“The service was co-produced with residents and community organisations, to ensure it meets the needs of our diverse communities.
“Offering a range of routes into health and social care services, Tower Hamlets Connect will make it easier for residents to access coordinated support.”
Councillor Rachel Blake, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said: “This new service is a really positive development in helping residents remain independent and healthy for longer by providing early help and joining up our local services.
Residents tell us that they would like to get more information about the help available and this service brings information together to support the whole community.”
Tower Hamlets Connect can be accessed onlinewww.towerhamletsconnect.org, where a directory of services, events calendar, and information and advice pages can also be found.
Anyone not digitally enabled can also use the Tower Hamlets Connect service helpline on 0300 303 6070 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) where an advisor can help. Out of hours calls are diverted to the Adult Social Care out of hours duty team (0207 364 4079).
Tower Hamlets Connect can also be accessed face-to-face in the community at drop in sessions and appointments at various times in GP practices, health clinics and in the home (outreach schedule published on the online portal).
On behalf of Tower Hamlets Together, the council commissioned Age UK East London (and its partners) to deliver the new Tower Hamlets Connect service, which replaces the Local Link service and the Tower Hamlets Health Advice Link service.
The consortium of wider local partners working with Age UK East London includes Apasen, Bromley by Bow, Tower Hamlets Law Centre, Limehouse Project, Real, Positive East, Island House, Deaf Plus.
Jane Caldwell Chief Executive Officer, Age UK East London, said: “Together with our partners we are excited to launch the new Tower Hamlets service which will make getting help with information and advice on benefits and social care easier and quicker for all residents."
To learn more about the new platform watch the video below.
