We are able to provide advice and information in community languages for people who have little or no knowledge of English.

Hamara offers its services and facilities to all sections of the community regardless of ethnicity, faith or any other background.

So what are the aims of these sessions?

• To break the cycle of poverty through providing support and advice on social welfare issues
• To empower people with the knowledge of other health and social care services thus leading to a higher number of people accessing these services
• Raise awareness of benefit entitlement leading to an increase in the uptake of benefits thus leading to a reduction in financial pressures within the family household
• To reduce anxiety and stress for individuals and families through obtaining advice and support on related issues such as debt, housing and immigration
• Community capacity building leading to increased confidence and empowerment

Advice sessions at Hamara:

• Welfare rights
• Debt advice
• Support for those giving up smoking
• Immigration advice Drug misuse
• Access to housing advice
• Citizens advice bureau
• Police surgery
• Support for expectant mothers
• Careers / training advice for young people

Additional support we offer:

BME communities often fail to access key benefits and services due to lack of awareness. This is due to many reasons such as language barriers, lack of knowledge or insensitive attitudes of service providers.

It is now recognised that people from minority ethnic groups are less likely to use health and social care services and are less aware of what help is available.

Hamara attempts to provide accessible advice and information; this is vital to Hamara’s work in tackling social exclusion and the provision of social support to minority ethnic communities. In doing so we aim to improve the quality of life of these communities.