Anti-poverty schemes in Islington are “more relevant than ever”, campaigners have said.
Islington People’s Rights, a charity offering free welfare benefits and debt advice to residents, has organised an exhibition at Islington Museum to address local poverty in commemoration of its 50th anniversary.
Gerard Omasta-Milsom, IPR’s CEO, said the exhibition would show that “with universal credit and years of austerity, many people in the borough are struggling to make ends meet and there is greater demand than ever”.
It employs ten specialist caseworkers and supports up to 2,500 Islington residents a year, through one-to-one sessions, telephone advice and legal representation.
The exhibition will include credit advice sessions from the charity’s caseworkers, a study outlining the areas of Islington in which IPR’s work is concentrated, a simulation of a Universal Credit application and clips from Ken Loach’s film, I, Daniel Blake. IPR will also run a series of talks and walking tours throughout November.
Commenting on the election, he added: “We hope all political parties will look closely at the impact of welfare reforms to ensure the most vulnerable members of society are able to access the benefits they need.”
Roz Currie, the curator of the exhibition, said that IPR did “an amazing job” in the community.
“Our whole ethos as a museum is to make Islington a fairer, healthier and happier place and IPR exemplifies this.”
‘Islington People’s Rights: Fifty years of tackling poverty in the borough’ opened on 2 November and will run until 11 January. A launch night will be held this evening at Islington Museum.
