Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Caerphilly residents’ use of a centralised support service for vulnerable people increased by more than 250% in a year. 

Usage of Caerphilly Cares, a service which was launched to assist people with issues such as living costs, mental health and loneliness, increased by 257% from 2021 to 2022.

According to Caerphilly County Borough Council, the service was started in April 2021 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and findings from the ‘Buddy’ volunteering scheme.

In May, Caerphilly Observer submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to understand how many Caerphilly residents have used the service.  

Now, we can reveal that 8,020 residents used the service in 2022 – compared to just 2,246 in 2021. 

In 2023 (up to May 30),  the service had already been accessed by 5,028 residents.

A spokesperson for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “There are a number of factors associated with the increase in demand, including a growing awareness and demand for the service through partners and the community. 

“Whilst a proportion of this is related to the cost-of-living crisis, other issues are prevalent including loneliness and isolation and wider health and mental health support needs.

“The service is constantly monitored and evaluated, the future of the service will be directed by emerging needs and findings from future evaluations.”

The council added that while the service was an “immediate response” to the pandemic, it also highlighted individuals with unmet needs who had “fallen through the net”. 

The Freedom of Information request also revealed that the total cost of Caerphilly Cares from 2021 to March 31 2023 was £2,858,373. 

Caerphilly County Borough Council contributed £84,307 with additional funding obtained from the Welsh Government, Welsh Local Government Association, Wales Council for Voluntary Action and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

This comes as the country has dealt with a cost-of-living crisis with energy and food prices rising markedly. 

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the price of consumer goods and services in the UK rose at the fastest rate in four decades in the year to October 2022. 

Utility prices also rose dramatically, with gas prices increasing by more than 129% and electricity prices by more than 66% in the year to January 2023, according to additional statistics from the ONS.

‘We are seeing increased demand’

Platfform, the social and mental health change charity,  has also seen an increased demand in people accessing their services.

In the financial year 2021/22 to 2022/23, referrals to their Caerphilly Crisis Team and Caerphilly Tenancy Support Service increased. 

Referrals to the crisis team increased by 59% and referrals to tenancy service increased by 12.5%, respectively.

A spokesperson for Platfform said: “Across all our services, we are seeing increased demand, growing waiting lists and people who are in worsening distress. 

“People’s mental health is impacted massively by poverty and isolation, and these have only worsened across the UK in recent years.

“Our projects and services work to address the root causes of emotional distress such as poverty and isolation and provide opportunities for people to connect with their local communities, get support with their emotional health and provide financial support and information where possible.

“The cost-of-living crisis has placed even more stress on people who are already struggling because of our broken system.”

Platfform runs a number of projects from drop-in sessions where people can receive information and support with financial issues to coaching and a family-focused service. 

Despite the general increase, the number of referrals for Caerphilly for Families has actually dropped. 

Platfform’s spokesperson added: “Whilst the number of referrals to our Caerphilly for Families service has slightly dropped, we are seeing more families needing support with financial issues recently, and money being a worry for both parents and young people.”

Caerphilly Cares can be contacted on 01443 811490 or caerphillycares@caerphilly.gov.uk.

More about Platfform can be found by visiting their website.