Adur and Worthing council uses tech to help residents in need

Adur and Worthing Councils then offers help to those who are struggling most.

The Proactive project focuses on long-term support and uses information on a person’s benefits status to score them and place them in categories – coping or not coping.

The latter is divided into three priority levels, with the most severe given the highest level of support.

Councillor Kevin Boram, Adur executive member for health and wellbeing, said: “Food poverty is an indicator of need and there has been some excellent work from the councils’ Proactive project that has looked into the data of who is most at risk and how we can provide support before people get into more difficult issues.

Adur and Worthing Councils are identifying those most in need of support

“This support has come in the form of employment coaches, money advice, temporary housing and street outreach. The councils are also working on a broader scale in key areas affecting how well our communities can thrive, such as educational skills, employment opportunities and the wider economy.”

Proactive was trialled from July 2021, and renewed in January following a successful seven months.

The project has so far identified 150 residents as “not coping” and they have since been offered support, with particular focus on ensuring they have enough food.

Since its trial, Proactive now includes further categories, including private accommodation renters in arrears, carers categorised as “at risk” and “struggling” single parents. People identified in these groups are then called and offered support by council officers.

Councillor Sean McDonald, Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for health and wellbeing, said: “We recognise that our approach needs to be more than alleviating the immediate need for food, but should also enable more early intervention work to connect people to the wider support and advice available.

“This includes help with money, housing, benefits entitlement and access to employment.”

READ MORE: Worthing councillor sees spike in food bank use

Councillor Heather Mercer, Worthing’s executive member for customer services, said: “The project has used the latest computer technology to identify hundreds of people in Adur and Worthing that need extra help.

“Food insecurity is a symptom of a bigger problem and through joint working, the Proactive project has given people the tools to overcome some of these wider issues.”