Welfare

Financial & Legal Support

We understand how much support our members need when you come to us, often without jobs, savings or proper accommodation, and with debt problems. We can make referrals to specialist debt organisations – including those which deal with financial abuse – and offer support to access them, including help completing forms and gathering information. We can also accompany you to meetings or on calls.

If you need welfare benefits, we can help with advice on your entitlements and ensure that you receive the maximum amount to which you’re entitled. We can also help you with completing new claims, maintaining existing claims or reporting changes in your circumstances. If you need someone to liaise with the DWP, help applying for or reassessing disability or sickness benefits, or assistance with appeals, we can be there for you too.

In exceptional circumstances, members may be able to access financial grants from GesherEU and other external organisations to help with rental deposits, furniture, essential household items, or education. If you need legal support, we’ll help you to find and secure a solicitor, assist you to claim legal aid (or other funding if it’s not available), and help you gather financial evidence and complete claim forms.

We’ll support you through a civil divorce and the Family Court system – accompanying you to meetings with solicitors or to court, and helping you to write statements and gather evidence. We can also help you apply for child maintenance, advise on your legal rights in the UK, and help you find a lawyer if you have matters outside the UK to deal with.

Mental Health

When someone leaves a Charedi community, they often lose their vital support network. We offer our members a new peer support network and hold regular events, where you can make friends, take part in activities and get involved in your local community. We aim to make sure you never feel alone.

At GesherEU, you’ll find people whom you can trust to put your needs and wellbeing first, without expecting anything in return.

If you have a problem, have experienced trauma, or need help making important life decisions, we offer informed emotional support. We can also give you advice on self-help techniques and help you access resources such as mindfulness.

If you need counselling, we’ll refer you to our trusted therapists and counsellors or to community mental health services, such as recovery cafes and support groups. We also provide grants to help you access private specialist therapy.

The NHS mental health system can be hard to navigate. We can help you get what you need, advocate for you and accompany you to appointments. We’ll make sure your voice is heard.

And if you are ever in a crisis, we’ll be there for you to ensure your safety and to make sure you’re supported by statutory services, where necessary and appropriate.

We know that forming new relationships can be hard. If you’re worried about dating, friendships or learning to trust people, we can offer advice and support on this too.

Parenting

Our parenting group is a bi-monthly online peer support group for all member parents, no matter whether you currently live with your children, or if those children remain in the Charedi community.

There you’ll find advice on all types of parenting issues – from what’s ‘normal’ in the outside world, to how to play, to dealing with behavioural issues.

In cases where one parents remains in the community, we can advise on how to help your children navigate two separate worlds – the religious and the secular.

We can also help you access family advice and support organisations, such as for children with additional needs.

We’ll support you through Family Court, help with supervised contact, tell you about grants and, if necessary, make referrals so you can access services such as family centres and play schemes.

Where social services are involved, we will provide support and advocacy.