Turn2us, Home-Start and the Child Poverty Action Group set up the Maximising Income project in 2009 with government funding, to address the problem of families living below the poverty line.
Home-Start staff and volunteers were trained to help families review their household budgets and access the welfare benefits and charitable grants available to them.
Using the "benefits calculator" and grants search on the Turn2us website, 21 per cent of families taking part in the evaluation of the pilot increased their incomes, receiving additional benefits of up to £210 a week and charitable grants worth up to £1,400.
The extra money received was used to buy food, cover transport costs to attend medical appointments and purchase necessities such as cookers, beds and pushchairs or items adapted for children with special needs.
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