Poverty: States call on charity

Saturday 16th August 2008, 9:59AM BST.

A CHARITY that helps Islanders in urgent need has been receiving letters from States departments asking for help for children and families whose needs cannot be met through the new income support system.

Colin Taylor, of the William and Helena Taylor Trust, says that many people are falling through the benefits net.

He regularly receives official letters from childcare officers, social workers and youth workers who work for the Heath and Social Services department asking for help for families with nowhere else to turn.

He also receives letters from school heads requesting help for children. ‘The people making these requests are professionals in their fields and must feel that there is nowhere in the system for them to go to help their clients. That is a situation that needs to be addressed,’ he said.

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