In September this year, the Standing Tall Foundation acquired two new part-time prevention support workers to provide crucial Housing and Benefits Support to those in need.
Until recently, Shauni Ward and Jess McCarthy-Scarsbrook delivered their service via the Teardrops Charity in St. Helens, but this has recently had to close. Between them they will cover Housing-related issues and Benefits & Welfare advice and support, consolidating our team, our portfolio of services and our one stop shop proposition for people who are in crisis.
People present to STF with multi-complex needs. We have seen an increasing number of clients come through our doors with Mental Health and Addiction issues due to underlying problems with their housing or benefits situation. All of our STF support is free at point of entry. Over 90% of our clients are unemployed, living in poverty or acute financial difficulty.
Shauni and Jess are experienced with a proven track record of working with clients to successful outcomes. They bring with them a waiting list of 40 people who need urgent intervention, moreover the closure of Teardrops Charity means that these clients can only rely on the nonspecific support they may be able to access through Citizens Advice. There is a real need for an understanding of the multi-faceted and complex issues these individuals can face with mental health and drug/alcohol addiction. STF is well positioned due to the work it carries out and the ‘Lived Experience’ it carries within its staff.
Combining our collective strengths, knowledge and learning and bringing this new post into the STF team will enable us to offer a streamlined pathway of support, avoiding unnecessary time delays and for a vulnerable person to have to deal with multiple agencies.
In the aftermath of COVID Teardrops saw a 200% increase in demand for local services to provide support with housing, welfare and benefits advice. Year on year STF has seen similar increases, in 2024 we are projecting support in the region of 3130 clients across all our interventions and 750 specifically for addiction support.
Shauni and Jess will bring immediate intervention, supporting people at the earliest possible stages with housing, welfare and cost-of-living challenges.
We know that people are more likely to access the support they need if it is in one place, aligned, and fundamentally in a friendly and non-judgemental safe space. The STF Hub offers a unique offer of person-centred, holistic support; helping people who are at risk of crisis with mental and physical health services, alcohol and substance misuse, wellness coaching, housing and benefit advice, financial budgeting and planning, CV development, employment and education support.
Andy Reid MBE said “ We are delighted to welcome the girls on board and look forward to being able to support even more people in our town with the issues they may be facing.”
Shauni Ward said “Supporting the community is at the heart of the Standing Tall Foundation. Jess and I are excited to be joining an amazing team of people doing what we love. We have a passion to help and support the people within our community.”
If you need help or support with housing and benefits, mental health or addiction support please contact the Standing Tall Foundation today:
Referrals@standingtallfoundation.org.uk
Mental Health 
Addiction Issues 
Wellbeing