Come and work with us, be a part of what we do
What We Do
We provide help and support in all of the following circumstances:
Coping on a reduced budget or managing debts
Filling in forms
Approaching retirement
Accessing exercise groups to improve health and wellbeing
Becoming a carer
Arranging care or carer assessment
Accessing falls prevention equipment
Separating from a partner
Making end of life arrangements
Managing after a partner has died
We Will:
- Take the time you need to listen
- Support you to make sure your concerns are addressed
- Talk about options available to you to achieve what you need
- Complete forms for benefits, housing and care services
- Speak to organisations and agencies to help you to access services
- Help you to access relevant information and services
Listed below are just some of the ways we can help and support yourself or someone you know.
Contact us by Telephone ( 0191 456 6903 ) so that we can arrange a meeting with an appropriate team member.
- Arrange a telephone appointment
- Arrange an appointment at our office on Beach Road, South Shields
- Arrange a meeting at your local community centre or near your home
- Arrange a home visit if that’s best for you
We regularly hold drop in advice sessions at various community venues across South Tyneside. Notification of exactly when and where the sessions will be held are posted on Facebook and this website.
Information and Advice
We provide advocacy and specialist advice on benefits, health and social care, financial planning, energy bills, debt and significant life events.
We have trained, specialist advisers who can assist with the following:
Check your benefits
many of the people we do this for find they are owed money; we will help you to get the money you are entitled to.
Check your energy bills
we can do a comparison and make sure you are getting the best deal.
Fill in forms
if you need a hand to fill in forms, particularly online, we can help with this.
Sort out complex Care issues
we can advocate for you and help you to negotiate any issues relating to care.
Set up Lasting Power of Attorney
many people find it comforting to know they have asked someone, generally a family member, to take care of legal issues for the future, and we can set this up for you (there is a charge for the forms used for this).
Resolve debt issues
we will write to debtors and help reschedule payments so you can manage better.
Make financial plans
we can help you plan for the future, to make sure you feel secure.
These services are provided from our base in South Shields, as well as at weekly sessions in different parts of the borough, currently Jarrow, Boldon and Hebburn – let us know where you are and we’ll book you in for the nearest place.
In some circumstances, generally due to the frailty of the person we are working with, we can make home visits.
Home Support
Our Home Support Team aim to keep you happy at home, living independently, by doing some of the jobs that are starting to get a bit much for you. One of the friendly team can come in once a month or several times a week – that’s completely up to you.
We can:
- pick you up in a car and do the shopping with you
- collect prescriptions or perhaps your dry cleaning
- take you to the bank or Post Office – you may feel happier having someone with you for these occasional trips
- help with telephone or internet shopping (if you have an internet connection)
- just pop in and have a nice coffee and a chat
There is a charge for the Home Support Service; contact us to discuss your needs.
See our Home Support Team.
Home From Hospital
If you have to go into hospital for whatever reason, the staff there will make an assessment before sending you home, to ensure you have the right support in place to help you recover from your hospital stay.
It is likely you will need some support for a few weeks; our friendly team of Support Workers will help to make your return home from hospital easier. We will also offer support which can help prevent an admission or readmission into hospital.
We can:
Escort or transport you home from hospital, or meet you at home to help you get settled-in, turn on the heating and lights and make you a cupppa
Offer week by week support, while you regain confidence and independence, with practical day to day tasks such as shopping, getting out and about, attending appointments, going for a walk, collecting prescriptions
Keep in touch either by telephone or home visits to see how you are doing
Offer encouragement and motivation to help you keep active and healthy
Find out about groups and activities in your area or support you to get back out and about in your usual routine
Offer you other ACTS services such as benefits advice, a falls prevention home assessment, domestic support or community activities
We can support you for up to a maximum of 6 weeks, however our aim is to help you be able to manage without us before then!
We concentrate on supporting you with day to day tasks which you will be able to continue doing by yourself in the weeks ahead.
Please note we are not home carers, so we are unable to support with personal care needs or medication.
See our Home from Hospital Team.
Link Workers + South Tyneside NHS Lifecycle
Our Link Workers are here to help older people who are socially isolated; who may have experienced depression or anxiety; or who may have previously had support from Mental Health Services. They are based at ACTS and work alongside South Tyneside NHS Lifecycle Mental Health Service.
Link Workers help older people to identify their own issues and then help them to access the support, social activity, or services they need. We enable people to identify what will help them the most to improve their health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally, and reduce social isolation.
Link Workers can meet you at ACTS or make a home visit to help people complete a self-assessment form; and, if it’s right for you, start an application to Lifecycle. Lifecycle provides access to talking therapies for people with common (mild to moderate) mental health problems such as low mood, stress, and anxiety. Therapies are delivered in individual sessions or in a group setting. Contact is by telephone, internet, face-to-face, or in groups.
South Tyneside Council Dementia Day Service + ACTS
YOU CANNOT APPLY DIRECTLY TO ACTS FOR THIS SERVICE.
People must be referred via the Let’s Talk Team in Adult Social Care.
If you feel this is something which might be helpful for you or a loved one:
contact the Let’s Talk Team: 0191 424 6000
or email LetsTalk@southtyneside.gov.uk
More people are living with dementia than ever before, and the impact on their lives, and the lives of their loved ones, is enormous. ACTS delivers the Dementia Day Service on behalf of South Tyneside Council in order to provide support for people with dementia and some respite for the people who care for them at home.
People using the service can expect caring support within a safe environment, with activities which are suitable and tailored for them individually. Most people have one or two sessions each week with us, and we can support transport to the Day Service if this is needed. We can also provide support to help people within their own homes or in community settings, if this is more appropriate.
You can help play your part in defeating Dementia
The ‘Join Dementia Research’ service is looking for more people with and without dementia to take part in vital studies concerning this pernicious affliction. Please view our post to find out a bit more about the service then perhaps sign up and help beat dementia.
Handy Service
Providing practical advice and solutions to reduce falls in the home, supporting independent living by fitting aids and adaptations and carrying out home assessments for energy issues.
Our Handy Service can visit your home to identify (and fix) fall hazards such as:
- Loose carpets, lino, rugs or trailing wires
- Low light levels, such as blocked windows and broken lightbulbs
- Cluttered walkways, especially steps & stairs
- Tripping points, such as raised thresholds and hidden steps
- Overgrown paths and access routes to your doorway
We can recommend and carry out actions to remove or reduce most hazards, depending on the size and scale of the work required.
Our Handy Service can install equipment to keep you steady and safe in your home, such as handrails, banister rails and key safes, so people can visit you without you having to get to the door.
The Handy Service can also identify ways you can save energy (and money on your bills!), including fitting free measures such as draft excluders and energy-saving lightbulbs.
Community Connections
We provide all sorts of social connections – whether that’s a regular coffee or lunch with others, hobby groups, keeping physically fit and well or special events, we bring people together for fun and company.
We want people to be able to connect with others in every neighbourhood, so people don’t have to travel far to meet up with friends for a coffee and a chat, or an activity they want to try.
Feeling a bit isolated? Joining a group feels a bit much? We can connect you with 2 or 3 other people (a Tyney Link!) and meet in a café or pub near where you live, so you can have some friendly contact and take things at your own pace.
Had an experience that’s hard to bear? Sadly, major health issues or the loss of a loved one are things that older age brings; being able to talk with someone, on the phone or face-to-face, who has gone through a similar experience to you can really help.
We can also work with you to get something going in your area; if you’ve always fancied having a local history group, or a crafters session, or some Pilates, contact our Community Development Team ( phone: 0191 456 6903 ) and they’ll help you to get it going, by advertising, finding a place to meet, finding a group lead if needed and anything else which will help you to get what you want going on your own doorstep.
We have a fair number of regular sessions. Some of these are held in our own building which has community rooms, a café and a gym!, others are held at various locations in South Tyneside. Our facebook page also has updates on sessions/events from different organisations.
Our sessions are grouped under 3 general headings:
- Activities – something to be involved with, from Arts & Crafts to gardening
- Social – getting together for a natter, play games, have a dance
- Wellbeing – gaining/maintaining both physical and mental fitness
No matter the heading ALL of our sessions are welcoming, relaxed, never strenuous and generally good fun. (See our Sessions Timetable)
Digital Inclusion
We provide a wide range of computing taster sessions and short courses for both beginners and those wishing to enhance their existing skills. Our courses avoid jargon and explain everything in plain English, so you feel confident to build upon your new skills at home.
We have a number of Digital Inclusion activities, which vary depending on demand and funding, but usually include:
Small group support – this is with trained volunteers, to develop your knowledge and skills to do what you want to do. This may include setting up an email address, filling in forms online, or finding out how to chat to family or friends online.
One-to-one support – often things are going well until they don’t! If we have capacity, we’ll offer support to troubleshoot the specific issue you have; it might be setting up your TV, getting your phone to do what you want it to do, or resolving a problem with a tablet or laptop. We can’t guarantee we’ll sort it, but if we can we will.
We do have two internet connected computers in our community room and these are available for people to use, booked in advance