Changing Futures – Bridge the Gap

As part of the ‘Changing Futures’ Government initiative (jointly funded by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and The National Lottery), Surrey County Council partnered with a number of charities and voluntary organisations like us, to deliver an assertive outreach programme for people with multiple disadvantage until 2025.

Oakleaf is just one delivery partner of a wider Bridge the Gap Alliance, which is made up of a group of third sector providers that have joined together to provide this specialist offer of support. They include Oakleaf, Catalyst, Rentstart, The Hope Hub, Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership (SWSDA, ESDAS, NSDAS, Your Sanctuary), Guildford Action, Surrey and Borders Partnership, The Richmond fellowship amongst others.

Bridge the Gap is a specialist “trauma informed” multiple disadvantage outreach service that has been developed in conjunction with lived experience experts and alliance members to offer person-centred keyworker support to individuals experiencing multiple disadvantage in Surrey.

A person with multiple disadvantage is defined as someone who is dealing with three or more of the following:

  • Contact with the criminal justice system.
  • Mental health issues.
  • Substance use (alcohol or drugs)
  • Homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.
  • Domestic violence/abuse.

Oakleaf provides support on a one-to-one basis, 4-8 hours per week per client, from 10am – 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am – 12pm on weekends; covering a variety of areas, including but not limited to:

  • Assistance with finding/sustaining accommodation.
  • Physical and mental health care
  • Substance use and harm reduction.
  • Financial arrangements including benefits applications and form filling.
  • Health appointments
  • Assisting with daily living tasks
  • Referrals to other pertinent support services

Bridge the Gap clients are also able to access the Surrey Adults Matter (SAM) approach which is a multi-agency wrap around “Team Around the Person” (TAP) process that involves a group of professionals regularly meeting with the client or their chosen advocate, to look at what is/is not going well, what needs to change or improve and to form an action plan together.

Referral:

To access the changing futures – Bridge the Gap support, referrals can be made by any practitioner on behalf of individuals whom they feel would benefit from the support. Use the link to complete and submit the referral form.

Clients can also be referred directly to SAM. For more information or to make a referral through SAM please email: SAM.referrals@surreycc.gov.uk

For more information about the ‘Changing Futures’ programme, click here.