CAN YOU HELP SECURE THE FUTURE OF SARC? SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISING APPEAL !

We need your support to ensure that SARC, which enjoys a great reputation within Southampton having helped tens of thousands of City residents since we were formed in 1981, can continue to serve local people most in need of our help.

We are grateful for the support we receive from the City Council, charitable funders, trade unions and individual clients but in difficult times SARC has struggled for some time to support our ever-increasing workload with a reduced income from a variety of sources.

Even with half the number of skilled advisors we had in 2016 we deliver around 6000 client episodes each year for 1500 individuals and families winning over £1.3 million for local people in our last full year. With better and secure funding, we could do even more.

We are asking you to consider making a donation to support SARC’s continuing work in the city all funds raised will be used to support and develop our services.  You can simply make a donation we recommend £10 but whatever the donor can afford

We would like to ask if you would be prepared to either endorse a fundraising appeal to allow us to broaden our funding base or perhaps become a Friend of SARC which is something we are proposing to roll out to demonstrate the wide support we have across the city.

Becoming a Friend of SARC which is optional involves a donation we recommend £10 but whatever the donor can afford,(if you are unwaged its free) and your name would, if you agree, be included on our website as a SARC Friend, in return we will provide regular updates on our work and operating position.

Donations should be made direct to our Bank Sort code 40-52-40  Account number 00090998 Account name SARC Limited or via the donation tab on this site  (we can provide gift aid forms if you are a UK tax payer to maximise the donation)

The following local figures and organisations are supporting our appeal and have this to say about why securing our future matters:

“SARC provides a unique, high quality service for some of the most disadvantaged people in Southampton.   We should be grateful and proud that such a service exists within our city” - Peter Baillee, Conservative Group leader Southampton City Council

“For more than 40 years the Southampton Advice and Representation Centre has provided invaluable and expert advice to residents who find themselves in difficult circumstances. I wish the charity well as it looks to the future and hope that it will continue to play a well-respected and important role in the city for another 40 years and beyond.” - Darren Paffey, Member of Parliament, Southampton Itchen

“I had the pleasure of working with SARC for many years as a councillor and am now delighted to support their fundraising appeal as Member of Parliament for Southampton Test. I have seen first-hand the impact their work has and have spoken to countless beneficiaries. SARC has been a vital asset to the city of Southampton for the last 40 years, providing invaluable expert advice and representation on everything to do with welfare benefits and employment rights. Let's make sure they carry on their important work for 40 years more!“ - Satvir Kaur Member of Parliament,  Southampton Test

“I strongly commend the work of SARC which for over 40 years has helped so many local people in Southampton with their expert advice and representation on welfare benefits and employment rights for those most in need.  During the COVID period, SARC served as a crucial pillar of support in the city, providing remote advice when many other services could not. Their commitment is second to none. It is vital that this asset remains central to the support available to local people in our city and I urge you to support SARC’s efforts to raise much needed funding to ensure it can serve communities and increase the support it can offer.” - Councillor Toqeer Kataria, SCC Cabinet member leisure and communities

“Year after year, SARC stand out for their professionalism in supporting Southampton residents to navigate the often complex and multi-layered benefits system. Their services are especially important when mistakes have occurred, or when those accessing their services need a lot of support. My continual thanks go to SARC for all they are doing to assist constituents." - Royston Smith former Southampton Itchen MP

And here is a link to a letter of support from from the Southampton University Legal Clinic about our work and involvement with supporting the professional development of some of their students.

SARC ACCESSIBILTY CHARTER

SARC is committed to working to remove barriers to accessing our services so that all members of our community and all communities in our city can receive the support and assistance that our specialist team of advisors provide.

We meet our obligations under the Disability Equality Act (81% of our clients have a disability as defined by the Act) but strive to go further and recognise that different sections of our community may face specific issues in accessing our services.

As a small local charity, we do face some limitations on the resources available to us when meeting client needs but we make every effort to offer everyone a service tailored to their needs. Our Accessibility Charter seeks to identify the areas in which we strive to meet clients’ needs and we welcome suggestions and comments on its content.  The Charter can be read here.

Our work in 2022-2023, and our annual report

Our current Annual Report is available here: SARC Annual Report 2023.

For a copy of our 2021 Annual Report please click here: SARC Annual Report.

Operating arrangements

We support our clients by making the best use of technology to keep in touch.

We operate with booked face to face appointments, where this is the client’s preference.

Additionally we are able to offer help by phone, email, or video. Please contact us and we can work out what the best access route will be for you. We will continue to review how we can offer access to our service, taking Government safety advice into account.

If you need our help to get into contact with SARC please telephone us between 9am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, on 023 8043 1435. As a small team, we may not always be able to answer the phone promptly. As an alternative, the best method of contacting us may be the contact form at the top of the page, or click here.

SARC’s mission

For 40 years we have provided quality advice and representation in welfare benefits and employment. Our team of friendly, motivated and specialist advisers, work hard to ensure that you get the help you need when you need it.

As a registered charity with the Advice Quality Standard mark, we specialise in: welfare benefits and employment law advice. Our service is free, impartial and confidential. Depending on certain funding criteria we can provide a full service, from simple form filling, to representation at Social Security Tribunals, Employment Tribunals.

Please contact 023 8043 1435, or click here for full details of how we can help you and at what level.

Social Prescribing

SARC recognises that “social prescribing” the ability of health services to refer patients to advice and support services can play a vital role in addressing the wider determinants of health such as poverty and social isolation and in addressing unmet patient needs.

We believe that our services offering both advice and advocacy over a range of welfare and employment issues can contribute to better health and well-being outcomes to health service users and also reduce demand pressures on frontline NHS services.

SARC has links with a range of health professionals in Southampton which are working well in ensuring patents can access timely advice and support.

We are keen, subject to capacity, to build on this approach and expand what we can offer through closer working with primary care and other health services.

Some examples of the range of cases we deal with